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Revised: February 25, 1999
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Disclaimer
February 25, 1999: Do you know how your donor dollar is used?
(By Jill Osborne, ICN CEO)
We've all had them.. those annoying telemarketing phone calls requesting donations for any number of social, political or environmental organizations. Let's be honest! Some of us say "yes" just to get them off of our backs. Although many telephone pleas can "sound good" at first, we have learned that phone calls and verbal assurances from a telemarketer are not a sound basis to make a donation decision on and that some people have later regretted making a donation.In the urology community, several US organizations are now accepting donations for urology research (including the NIDDK, ICA, the Prostatitis Foundation, the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases and more). With this greater market for our individual donor dollars, it makes sense that we become more assertive and more informed by requesting financial information before committing our precious dollars.
The key document that you can request from any telemarketer for a non-profit organization is called an IRS Form 990. Far more detailed than a corporate financial report, the Form 990 provides line item expense info, salaries of staff members and much more information. (If an organization fails to provide this information, the IRS customer service office will intercede on your behalf. The organization may also be assessed statutory penalties.) For more information on non-profit guidelines and the required disclosal of this information, as well as the penalties for organizations who refuse to disclose the document, can be found at: IRS FAQ on Tax Exempt Organizations
How do you know if an organization meets basic standards?
The National Charities Information Bureau offers a free booklet and excellent web site (http://www.give.org), with helpful tips and guidelines for potential donors. They are an independent organization that reviews non-profit organizations and provides guidelines that you can use to study a non-profits operations BEFORE you make your donation. Here are some quick donation tips for the next time that you receive a donation solicitation.Ask charities that request contributions for WRITTEN information that tells you:
- the exact name of the organization (some sound-alike groups can be confusing);
- the organization's purpose (finding a cure for a disease, or caring for people who suffer from the disease, for example);
- how the group attempts to achieve its goals (its own research, king grants, etc.);
- how much of your dollar is used for true charitable purposes (NCIB Standards call for a minimum of 60 cents out of each dollar spent).
Some things to be aware of
- high pressure calls and mail solicitations that emphasize emotional content but contain little or no substance;
- charities that won't send written material until you donate, or because there "isn't time"or it's" too costly";
- phone calls and letters telling you that you have won money or a valuable prize from a charity;
- callers who want to send someone over to pick up your contribution. Insist on using the U.S. Mail.
For further information on non-profit standards, you can ask for a free copy of the NCIB's free "Wise Giving Guide", contact:
National Charities Information Bureau (http://www.give.org)
19 Union Square West
New York, NY 10003
1-(800)-501-NCIB
Please note that the ICN does not participate in any phone or telemarketing campaigns to solicit funds of any type.