Give What You Can Afford to Those in Need
Before I make a contribution to any charity, I first check the IRS website to determine whether or not the charitable organization is approved by the I.R.S. as a tax-exempt charity. After all, especially in this economy, tax deductibility may be one of the motivating factors for making a contribution. I also want to know what percentage of my donation goes to the paid fundraiser and what remaining percentage goes to charitable purpose. . The website www.charitynavigator.org will give you this information for a number of states, including Colorado. In addition, the American Institute of Philanthropy has a grading system of top-rated charities that spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs and $25 or less to raise $100 in public support. The organization has certain other relevant and important guidelines. This information is available at www.charitywatch.org.
The principals of some businesses, including ours, regularly make charitable contributions to the charity of choice of each of the other principals, in lieu of exchanging gifts at Christmas. In addition, each principal makes contributions to his or her own charity of choice. This tradition seems to work well and helps our firm fulfill what we consider as our civic and social obligation to give where it helps the most.