When considering making your year end contributions, keep these tips in mind for your protection.

All too frequently, many retired persons are victims of charitable fraud through an ever-increasing number of misleading techniques that are aimed at capturing vital personal information and causing financial damage.

Please take a moment to review the following top 10 tips provided by the Charity Navigator as the end of the calendar year quickly approaches. These easy-to-follow precautions can help ensure that you contribute only to legitimate and efficient charities.

On solicitations…
1.) Don’t give in to pressure tactics. Remember, reputable organizations don’t have to resort to harassment and pressure tactics. Their good work and financial health should speak for itself.

2.) Verify claims that say you’ve contributed in the past. If a caller or an appeal letter indicates that you’ve given in the past, be sure to check it out for yourself.

3.) Don’t feel obligated to give because you received a gift. Just because you received some mailing labels or personalized cards doesn’t mean you’re required to reciprocate with a donation.

4.) Be careful of impostors. Scam artists often use sound-alike names to trick you into thinking they represent a legitimate charity.

5.) Hang up the phone. Ask the fundraiser to send you written information about the charity they represent, hang up the phone and do some research on your own. Send the organization a check directly in the mail, thus ensuring 100% of your gift goes to the charity and not the for-profit fundraiser.

On being prepared…

6.) Make sure that your donation is tax-deductible. Before giving a donation to any organization, make sure it is a 501(c)(3) charity. That means the group has filed paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), registering it as a U.S. nonprofit and enabling its contributors to take a tax-deduction for their gifts.

7.) Research the charity before you give. Take a look at the organization’s finances. Make sure it is able to direct at least 75% of its budget on the programs and services it exists to provide.

8.) Send your donation directly to the charity. Once you’ve done your research, send your contribution directly to the charity you wish to support. Don’t send cash as it can be lost or stolen. Also, you’ll want to have paid by check or credit card so you have a receipt of your donation when it comes time to take the tax-deduction.

9.) Tell the charity not to share your personal information. When you send a charity a small donation- say $10 or $25- there is a high probability that the organization will then sell or trade your contact information with other charities.

10.) Finally, share your giving wishes and supported charities with a trusted family member or close friend. Having someone who knows your preferences and history of giving can help spot any changes in giving patterns.

With more than 2 million charities in the United States, there are countless ways to make your contributions count and to make a difference in the world.