Money Fix: Tips on charitable giving

It's good to be generous, but it's always best to know where your donations are going. A report issued  by State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman's office shows donations often land in telemarketers' pockets instead of with a charity. The AG's office issued the following tips:

Resist pressure to give on the spot: Ask the caller what programs are conducted by the charity and how much the telemarketer is being paid.

Research the charity. Check the AG's website, charitiesnys.com. Other useful sites: charitywatch.org, bbb.org, charitynavigator.org, guidestar.org.

Give to charities you know. Be careful of charities with similar names.

Ask how your donation will be used. Avoid vague emotional appeals from groups that don't provide written information about their programs and finances upon request.

Be skeptical of unsolicited emails. They may not be from the charity. For tips on avoiding such "phishing," click here to go to the website of the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team.

Check sources when donating via text and social media. Confirm through the charity's website or a rep of the charity that they raise funds this way.

Never give cash. Make contributions by check, made payable directly to the charity. It's safer than using a credit or debit card. Never give personal information to organizations you don't know.

Report suspicious organizations: Contact the Attorney General's Charities Bureau online at charities.bureau@ag.ny.gov or call 212-416-8402.

A version of this story appeared in Newsday, Dec. 19, 2011.