I’ve written before, warning you to check out organizations that you give money to. Let me add some further insights into these discussions. I have people come to my door asking for help for themselves or groups they are working with. This sounds perfectly legitimate, but how do you make sure?

Ask for the name they are representing. Use your smartphone to find this company. Are they not for profit? Some of these businesses are just businesses. They take your money and put it into their coffers. They may or may not donate some to charity.

This is important when neighborhood kids are earning money for their schools or churches. You’ve been asked to buy candy, cookies, popcorn, or other items from them. A one-dollar purchase may net them only ten percent or less. Ask how much their cut is. If you trust the kid, give the amount asked for and let them keep the product.

This is the best way to deal with the catalogs that are often used to finance school projects. Many of the items are five dollars or more. Donate the money, and the entire amount can go to the child’s school. Buy something, and they receive a much smaller amount. The businesses providing this service get most of the proceeds.

If you do not know the person, keep your money and politely tell them you have already donated to this group. If you do not recognize who they are supporting, tell them you donate to your church or another not-for-profit that you help. Don’t lie to them and don’t continue the conversation. Close the door and go on with your day.

Do you want to help certain groups but don’t know how? I live in Springfield, Missouri, which is home to Convoy of Hope and Wounded Warriors. We also have a Habitat for Humanity Renew Center. They are all nationally known groups that always need additional funds for all the things they do for others.

Is there a group that has helped someone in your family or that you know? These would be excellent places to donate your money. Do not send money to any online group that you do not know personally. If you receive an email or social media post, verify that the money will go to whom they say it will receive your donations. I prefer to donate privately rather than online.

As I have mentioned before, be aware of to whom and what you give your money. A man I used to work with attended a church that was from a denomination I did not know. I asked questions about the church and found that his fiancé’s father was the pastor, and he owned the church property.

In later years, I heard of many such congregations that found out that their worship centers were not actual not for profit organizations. Donations made to them were taxed, and if the owners or pastors kept the books straight, they were legal. Ask the question before you give, “Who gets the money?”

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger