Guide
How to check if a charity is legitimate
Every year, millions of people donate to charities without knowing whether their money will be used effectively. Here is how to verify any charity in minutes using publicly available data.
Why verify a charity?
Not every registered charity is well-managed. Some have excessive overhead, pay executives more than they spend on programs, or fail to file financial reports. Verifying before you donate protects your money and ensures it reaches people who need it.
The good news: most of the information you need is public. Government registries, tax filings, and platforms like GiveRadar make it easy to check any charity in seconds.
Step 1: Check registration status
Every legitimate charity is registered with a government body. In the United States, that is the IRS. In the UK, the Charity Commission. In Australia, the ACNC. A charity that is not registered with any government authority is a major red flag.
On GiveRadar, every charity profile shows its registration number, the registry it is filed with, and whether it is currently active. You can search by name or registration number to find any charity.
Step 2: Review financial health
A charity's financial data tells you where your donation actually goes. Key things to look for:
- 1. Program spending ratio - what percentage of expenses goes to actual programs? The industry benchmark is 65-75%. Below 50% is a concern.
- 2. Overhead ratio - how much goes to admin and fundraising? Below 25% is efficient. Above 40% deserves a closer look.
- 3. Revenue trend - is the charity growing or shrinking? A sharp decline in revenue could indicate problems.
- 4. Executive compensation - is the CEO's pay reasonable for the organization's size? A CEO making $500K at a charity with $1M revenue is a red flag.
Step 3: Look for red flags
Red flags do not necessarily mean fraud, but they indicate areas that warrant further investigation:
Missing financial filings
Charities that stop filing tax returns may be hiding financial problems.
High executive pay
CEO compensation that exceeds 10% of total revenue or is disproportionate to the charity's budget.
Low program spending
Less than 50% of expenses going to programs means most donations fund overhead.
No board oversight
A charity with no disclosed board members or only family members on the board.
Step 4: Check the trust score
GiveRadar calculates a trust score from 0 to 100 for every charity, based on financial health, governance, transparency, and public sentiment. A score above 70 indicates a well-managed organization. Below 40 suggests limited data or potential concerns.
The trust score is a starting point, not the final word. Always review the underlying data yourself, especially for large donations.
Step 5: Verify contact information
A legitimate charity has a working website, a physical address, a phone number, and responds to emails. If you cannot find any way to contact a charity, be cautious.
GiveRadar provides email addresses, phone numbers, websites, and social media profiles for millions of charities. Create a free account to access contact details.
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GiveRadar has trust scores, financials, and red flags for 8 million+ charities worldwide.
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