Paid Fund-Raisers
Some charities find it efficient to pay professional fund-raisers — to handle large scale mailings, telephone drives and other solicitations — rather than use their own staff or volunteers. Professional fund-raisers are in business to make money and are entitled to keep a portion of the money they collect. If you're solicited for a donation, you may want to ask if the caller is a paid fund-raiser and what percentage of your donation the fund-raiser will keep. If you're not comfortable with the amount, you may want to donate to a different organization, or send your donation directly to the charity so that they benefit from the full amount of your check.

Reducing Telephone and Direct Mail Solicitations
If you feel overwhelmed with direct mail requests for donations, you can help to reduce the number of those solicitations. Typically, when you donate to a charity, your name is placed on the charity's mailing list. The charity uses this list to re-contact you and often rents it or exchanges it with other organizations. You can stop the sharing of your information by including a note with your donation asking the charity not rent, sell or exchange your personal information and donation history. You also can ask a nonprofit organization to limit its donation requests to once or twice a year. If the organization fails to honor your requests, you may wish to find a different charity to support.

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule applies to telemarketers who make calls across state lines on behalf of charitable organizations. The Rule restricts calling times to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The Rule also requires telemarketers to promptly identify the charitable organization they represent and disclose that the purpose of the call is to ask for a contribution. Telemarketers may not mislead or lie to obtain a contribution. A consumer who does not want additional telephone calls from a paid fund-raiser can ask to be placed on the fund-raiser's "do not call" list. If the fund-raiser calls again, they may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000.

The federal government has created the National Do Not Call Registry — the free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register, or to get information, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. You will receive fewer telemarketing calls wwithin three months of registering your number. It will stay in the registry for five years or until it is disconected or you take it off the registry. After five years, you will be able to renew your registration.

Many states have their own regulations regarding charitable solicitations. Some require paid fund-raisers to identify themselves as such and to name the charity for which they are soliciting, even if the call is in-state. To learn about the law in your state, check out links to state charity regulators at the National Association of State Charity Officials Web site — www.nasconet.org. Legitimate direct mail solicitations often list the contact information for regulators in the states they solicit. The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service lets you opt out of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies for five years. When you register with this service, your name will be put on a "delete" file and made available to direct-mail marketers. However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that are not registered with the DMA's Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA, send your letter to:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Or register online at www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html.

Charity Check-Up
Many charities use your donations wisely. Others may spend much of your contribution on administrative expenses or more fund-raising efforts. Some may misrepresent their fund-raising intentions or solicit for phony causes.

Before you open your checkbook, check out the charity you're considering with these organizations:

BBB Wise Giving Alliance
4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 276-0100
www.give.org

American Institute of Philanthropy
3450 Lake Shore Dr., Suite 2802 E
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 529-2300
www.charitywatch.org

GuideStar
427 Scotland Street
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 229-4631
www.guidestar.org

Your Local Charity Registration Office
Most states require charities to be registered or licensed by the state. Check with your state Attorney General's office or Secretary of State. You can find a list of state charity regulators at the National Association of State Charity Officials Web site — www.nasconet.org.

Many smaller, newer or local charities may not be rated by the organizations listed here. Some fraternal organizations, such as police and fire groups may not be rated at all. If the charity seeking your donation is not listed or rated, follow the precautions listed under Charity Checklist to help you determine whether an organization deserves your donation dollars.

Where to Complain
If you believe an organization may not be operating for charitable purposes, is making misleading solicitations or is ignoring requests to be placed on a "do not call" list, contact your state Attorney General, your local consumer protection office or the Federal Trade Commission.