Fraudulent charities prey upon the generosity of Illinois citizens. However, you should not be discouraged from contributing to legitimate charities. Today, more than 28,000 charitable organizations are registered with the Office of the Attorney General. These organizations regularly provide the office with information about their income, expenditures, programs and administrators. If you are interested in a particular organization, or want to know if a charity that has solicited you for a donation is registered, please contact the Charitable trusts Bureau at 312-814-2595 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013).
You can help combat charity fraud in Illinois by reporting suspicious solicitations tothe Office of the Attorney General. Whenever possible, keep notes detailing the date and time of the call, the organization's name, and the name of the solicitor. Try to remember their "pitch" as well as any other pertinent information. Together we can help prevent the people of Illinois from becoming victims of their own generosity.
Donate Wisely- Do not donate if a solicitor...
Cannot or will not answer basic questions about the charity.
Uses high-pressure tactics to obtain your donation.
Insists on payment by cash rather than check.
Insists on sending someone to pick up your donation rather than letting you mail it in.
Give only to a group you know and are confident will use the money wisely.
When paying by check, write out the full name of the organization-do not use initials.
Never pay in cash.
If you want to make a tax-deductible donation, make sure you get a receipt for the amount of your contribution with a statement guaranteeing that the contribution is tax deductible.
If you receive "gifts" in mailings from solicitors, you are under no obligation to contribute and may keep any unsolicited merchandise without donating.
Ask the organization to send you written information, including the charity's name, address, telephone number, and other financial information.
Ask questions, gather information and donate only when you are satisfied that your money will be used in ways you consider appropriate.
What is the charity's exact name? Where is the charity headquartered? Does it have local offices? What are the addresses and phone numbers of its local and national offices?
What percentage of the money taken in by the charity goes to fund raising? What percentage to administration? What percentage to the charitable program?
What programs does the charity offer in your community? Where? What is the primary purpose of the charity?
Is the solicitor a volunteer or a paid fund raiser? (If he or she is paid, a portion of your contribution will pay the salary. Find out how much he or she receives.)
How long has the charity been in operation? Is it registered with the Illinois Attorney General's Office?
Will the charity provide a current financial statement?
Some police and firefighter organizations are not charitable but instead are unions or social groups that will not use your donation for charitable purposes.
"Advertising" in so-called "ad books" will probably not reach the general public, and usually less than 20 % of the money you contribute benefits the police, firefighters or community.
Police officers and firefighters never know you contributed.
Any coercive statements, direct or subtle, that infers that giving is a way to get better protection or special treatment is a crime and should be reported to the respective police department, the State's Attorney and the Attorney General's Office.
Professional fund raisers often charge 80 percent to 90 percent of your contribution as a fee. Consider funding volunteer organizations.
Some groups choose organization names similar to well-known charities in an attempt to mislead donors. If the solicitor claims to represent the police or fire department, contact your local law enforcement or firefighting agency to verify that they are conducting a fund-raising campaign. Be careful of solicitations by charities that have unfamiliar names or do not have programs in Illinois.
If you would like to obtain copies of the financial documents filed by charities registered in Illinois, you may request them by writing:
Office of the Attorney General
Charitable Trusts Bureau
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 814-2595
TTY: 1-800-964-3013
The following organization also provides information about national charitable organizations:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
(703) 276-0100
Fax: (703) 525-8277
www.give.org
Back to Publications Main Page