PA Secretary of State: Make your holiday donations count by being informed about charitable organizations

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortés reminds Pennsylvanians that the Department of State offers helpful information about charitable organizations in the Commonwealth.

"Pennsylvanians are very generous. Especially during the Christmas and holiday season, they look for ways to share their blessings with others," Secretary Cortés said. "Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous individuals and organizations that try to take advantage of that generosity. So, we encourage donors to be fully informed before contributing to any charitable organization."

As part of its ongoing mission to educate the public about informed giving, Department of State staff will hold a Twitter Town Hall on Giving Tuesday, December 1, from noon until 12:30 p.m. Join in the Town Hall by following @PaStateDept and using the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #PAcharities.

The Department's Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, which is charged with administering the Commonwealth's charitable solicitation law, offers the following tips on charitable giving:

• Do not give to a charity you know nothing about.
• Do not be fooled by a convincing name or one that sounds like the name of a well-known charity.
• Do not commit to donate over the phone unless you are familiar with the organization.
• Do not give cash, credit card numbers or bank account numbers. Do not wire a donation Instead, write a check payable to the charity so you have a record of your donation.
• Do not feel pressured into giving on the spot or allowing someone to come to your house to pick up a contribution.
• Find out if your contribution is tax-deductible.
• If solicited in person, always ask to see the solicitor's identification.

More helpful tips about informed giving can be found at the Charities section of the Department's website.

Charitable organizations that solicit contributions in Pennsylvania must register with the Bureau if their gross annual contributions are more than $25,000. There are some statutory exclusions and exemptions to the registration requirement, for groups such as religious institutions, hospitals, and police, firefighter or veteran organizations.

To determine if a charitable group is properly registered, the public can search in the Charities Online Database. The website also provides a list of organizations which have been subject to corrective actions taken by the Bureau. The public may also call 1-800-732-0999.

Additionally online, the Annual Charities Report contains detailed information about charitable organizations registered in Pennsylvania as well as professional solicitors and fundraising counsels. For instance, the report outlines what percentage of every donated dollar goes to the charity and how much is charged by the solicitors or counsels for their services.

"We are dedicated to our job of helping to prevent charities fraud," Secretary Cortés said. "The information we provide allows all Pennsylvanians to make wiser choices about their donations."

To file a complaint about any charity soliciting donations in the Commonwealth, contact the Division of Investigations/Audits at 717-787-0700, by email at [email protected], or by mail at 401 North St., Room 212, Harrisburg, PA, 17120.

MEDIA CONTACT:    Wanda Murren, (717) 783-1621

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us