Secretary of State Mark Hammond Encourages Wise Giving in the Wake of the Recent Earthquake in Haiti

COLUMBIA -- Secretary of State Mark Hammond encourages South Carolinians wishing to reach out to victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti to do so wisely.  Potential donors may verify if a soliciting organization is registered with the Secretary of State’s Office by searching our online charities database at www.scsos.com.  Click on the “Charity Search” box on the right and enter the name of the charity you are researching. Not all charities are required to register with the Secretary of State’s Office due to statutory exemptions (such as religious groups or Congressionally-chartered veterans’ organizations). Users can also click on the “Public Charities” section of our Webpage, and use the pulldown menu to find a listing of “Helpful Websites for Charitable Giving.” Choose one of these sites to continue your search. You can also call our Charities Division at 1-888-242-7484 for more information.

 “Untold numbers of men, women and children have lost their lives in this unavoidable tragedy,” said Secretary Hammond.  “Even more people have been displaced and face an uncertain future as they struggle to carry on without loved ones and caretakers.  I ask South Carolinians considering donating to check out the organization before making a contribution. Our thoughts, prayers and actions go out to the citizens of Haiti.”

Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) has a special section on their website under “Hot Topics” devoted to how people can assist the help agencies that already have a presence in the region. Sending donations to an agency that already has a presence in the affected area may have a more immediate impact. For a listing of these agencies, go to www.charitynavigator.org

Charity Navigator also offers these tips to consider before giving to a charitable cause during a time of crisis:

Give to an Established Charity
Find a charity with a proven track record of success with dealing with the type of disaster and in the region in which the disaster occurred. If you feel compelled to give to a new charity, be sure to get proof that the group is in fact a registered public charity with 501 (c) (3) status. Verify the agency’s legitimacy by using Internet-based resources rather than the charity’s purported website.

Designate Your Gift
By designating your gift, you'll ensure that your donation will be used as you intended. Most charities with online giving portals offer a check box feature so that you can tell the organization how to spend your contribution. If you are mailing in a check, then write a note in the memo section of the check specifying that you want your gift spent entirely on the current crisis.

Telemarketers
Be wary of fundraisers who pressure you to make a contribution over the phone. Never divulge your credit card information to someone soliciting you via the phone. Instead, ask the fundraiser to send you written information about the charity they represent and do some research on your own. Once you feel comfortable with the charity, send the organization a check directly in the mail, or give through their website, thus ensuring 100% of your gift goes to the charity and not the for-profit fundraiser.

Research and Follow Up
As always, take the time to find a charity you can trust. There are several free online financial evaluators to search for well-run charities worthy of your support. Go to the Secretary of State’s Public Charities page at www.scsos.com/Public_Charities for a listing of helpful links.

Give Online
The inherent speed of online giving provides instant gratification to donors and offers charities immediate access to much needed funds.

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