Before You Donate: The 5-Minute Charity Check

What Monmouth families should know

Summer is peak season for “help my neighbor / help this kid” donation asks — and it’s also when scammers show up in local Facebook groups, Venmo DMs, and even texts that look like they came from a real school or charity.

The good news: you don’t need to be an accountant (or a cynic) to donate safely. You just need a quick, repeatable way to verify who you’re paying and where the money is going.

Below is a five-minute checklist Monmouth families can use before donating — especially when the ask is urgent, emotional, or coming from someone you don’t know well.

The 5-minute charity check (do this before you click “Pay”)

Step 1: Confirm the charity is real (IRS TEOS)

Search the charity name (or EIN) in the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS). It can show whether the organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations, plus its tax-exempt status and filings like Form 990s.

• Use: IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS)
• Look for: the exact legal name, the EIN, and whether it’s currently recognized as tax-exempt.

Step 2: If they’re raising money in NJ, check NJ registration

In New Jersey, charitable organizations and professional fundraisers that are based, operating, or soliciting in the state generally have to register with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Charities Registration Section (unless exempt). The state’s Charities Portal is the starting point.

• Use: NJ DCA Charities Portal
• Tip: scammers sometimes pick names that sound like real charities. Match the exact name and location — not just a logo.

Step 3: Make sure the payment path matches the charity

Before clicking a link, pause and confirm you know who will receive your money. If the “donate” button goes to a random payment handle you can’t connect to the organization, treat that as a stop sign.

• Safer options: credit card or check (you get a paper trail).
• Avoid: anyone asking for cash, gift cards, or wiring money.

Step 4: Watch for the pressure pattern

Scammers often rush you (“only 30 minutes left!”), use vague emotional claims, or thank you for a donation you never made. They also spoof caller ID or use names that sound almost like real charities.

• If you feel rushed: step back and donate later, directly through a site you trust.
• If details are vague: ask one simple question — “What exact organization receives the funds, and how will they be used?”

Step 5: After you donate, double-check the fine print

Even with legitimate organizations, mistakes happen. Review your bank/credit card statement to confirm you were charged the amount you agreed to and you weren’t accidentally enrolled in recurring donations.

Fast red flags (Monmouth-mom edition)

• “Donate by gift card.” Hard no.
• “Send it as friends & family.” That removes protections.
• They can’t tell you the charity’s exact legal name. Real orgs can.
• The link looks weird. Misspellings, extra hyphens, or a “copycat” domain.
• They’re mad you asked. Legit fundraisers expect basic verification.

If the ask is for an individual (not a charity)

Sometimes the request is truly person-to-person (a neighbor’s medical bills, a family after a fire). That’s different — and it’s okay to support people directly — but you still want verification.

• Verify through a second channel: call the school office, the employer, the church, or a family member you already know (not the phone number in the post).
• Ask for specifics: “Who is collecting? Where will funds be deposited? Is there a public update plan?”
• Consider non-cash help: groceries, gift cards you buy yourself and hand-deliver, or paying a bill directly.

How Love of Humanity helps

Love of Humanity is a Monmouth-based nonprofit focused on practical, family-facing community education — the kind that helps households make safer decisions fast (from contractor checks to donation verification to emergency prep). We publish free guides that you can share in local mom groups, schools, and neighborhoods, so good people don’t get taken advantage of when emotions are high.

One sentence you can copy/paste in a group post

Before donating, take 60 seconds to verify the charity’s exact legal name on IRS TEOS and (if they’re soliciting in NJ) check NJ’s Charities Portal — and never pay by gift card or wire.