CharityWatch Blog

Never Again! Red Cross Needs Policy of Cooperation in Major Disasters

May 22, 2012

Other Americans and I were outraged over the American Red Cross' early refusal to participate in a shared computerized database of the victims of the September 11 disaster. It took...

Eight Rungs of the Giving Ladder

May 17, 2012

The concept of giving anonymously without knowing the recipient can be traced back to ancient Israel. Beggars would regularly congregate next to a wall of a courtyard, and donors, being...

What You Need to Know to Donate Safely Online

May 17, 2012

Donating online is a quick and convenient way to give to charity, but it also comes with drawbacks that donors need to be aware of. To help you donate online...

Fundraising Reduction Notice

May 17, 2012

When you give money to a charity or nonprofit group, enclose a note requesting that the organization not rent, sell or exchange your name, address and giving history with anyone...

Tips for Donating Your Old Cell Phone

May 16, 2012

Americans are replacing their cell phones about once every two years to get the latest and greatest model. So what do we do with all of our leftover phones? An...

Tips for Donating a Car to Charity

May 16, 2012

A charity that uses a donated vehicle for transportation or hauling goods obviously benefits directly from such a donation. However, in many cases donated cars will be sold en masse,...

Seven Tips for Reducing Unwanted Mail and Phone Appeals

May 16, 2012

If you are wondering how to cope with the avalanche of charity mailings and telephone calls, CharityWatch offers the following suggestions...

Car Donations: Taking Taxpayers for a Ride

May 16, 2012

Car donations to charities seem like a win-win proposition. A donor gets a hassle-free way of disposing of an old car and a fat tax deduction, a charity gets money...

The Connected World of Charitable Fundraising

Apr 1, 2012

You open your mailbox one morning and there inside is a letter from a charity asking for your support. You read it and are inspired to donate, writing out a...

‘Not So’ GreatNonprofits

Apr 1, 2012

On its website, GreatNonprofits bills itself as "a place to find trustworthy nonprofits." The site allows people -- from donors to clients, volunteers to employees -- to submit reviews of...

Red Cross Reputation Bloodied Again

Apr 1, 2012

American Red Cross, which controls nearly one half of our nation's blood supply, was fined almost $9.6 million by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2012 for "significant violations"...

View Through the Looking Glass

Apr 1, 2012

In August of 2011 CharityWatch published The Alice in Wonderland World of Charity Valuation, in which we described a serious problem among many charities that raise and distribute non-cash aid...