How To Avoid Charity Scams During GivingTuesday, Holidays: MD Leaders

ANNAPOLIS, MD — While GivingTuesday on Nov. 29 is a day that marks the season of helping others, Maryland officials warn that the holiday season can come with scam artists preying on generous donors.

“The holidays are a peak season for charitable giving as Marylanders open their hearts and wallets to donate to charities and those in need,” said Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith in a news release. “While we are grateful to our reputable charities, we urge our citizens to be on alert for scam artists who take advantage of unsuspecting donors and to exercise caution in order to protect their financial information.”

Together with the Attorney General’s Office, the Secretary of State’s Office works to ensure that charitable contributions go to qualified charitable organizations and are used for their intended purpose. The Maryland Secretary of State registers and regulates charitable organizations and their professional solicitors who operate in the state.

Marylanders can search the Public Registry of Charities on Maryland One Stop to see if a charity is registered in the state.

“Now more than ever, it is important to arm Maryland’s donors with tips and information to guard against charity fraud and scams,” said Attorney General Brian E. Frosh in a news release. “Giving Tuesday and the holiday season inspire many of us to donate, and Maryland is home to many reputable charities deserving of our generous donations. Donors have a right to ask questions and make informed decisions so that charitable contributions are not wasted.”

Here are some tips on how to avoid a charity scam this GivingTuesday and year-round:

• Research before you give. Visit an online resource, such as Charity Navigator, that provides in-depth information on thousands of verified charities.
• Beware of social media sites that promote charitable organizations.
• If a telemarketer calls asking for a donation by phone, ask questions first and request additional information by email or mail.
• Pay close attention to the name and logo, and make sure that the charity you are donating to is the one you intended to give to.
• Practice healthy skepticism about any solicitor or charity that pressures you on the spot to donate without satisfactorily answering your questions.
• After verifying that a charity is reputable, it’s best to donate by check or credit card.

Since 2012, nonprofits, community and grassroots groups, and mutual aid networks worldwide have used GivingTuesday to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.

Local nonprofits are having a particularly tough time this year. The number of donors shrunk by 7 percent in the first half of 2022, largely due to a “collapse” in the number of small-gift supporters, according to the most recent GivingTuesday quarterly fundraising report.

Donors giving $100 or less were down 17 percent in the first six months of the year, and 8 percent fewer donors made gifts of $101 to $500, according to the report.

There are some bright spots in the fundraising report, released by the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, a research effort of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Foundation for Philanthropy and GivingTuesday.

Importantly, although the pool of donors shrunk in the first half of 2022, the dollars contributed increased 6.2 percent as major donors stepped up. At the same time, the increase in large donor contributions was outpaced by second-quarter inflation rate of about 8.5 percent.

GivingTuesday was created in New York City in 2012 with a simple goal: to encourage people to do good. Over the past nine years, the idea has grown into the global movement it is today.

The goal of GivingTuesday is “radical generosity” — the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering, according to the movement’s website.

If you think that you have been a victim of a charity fraud or scam, email the Office of the Secretary of State, Charities and Legal Services Division at DLInvestigations_SOS@maryland.gov or by phone at 410-974-5534.

For more tips on smart giving, view the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division publication Consumer's Edge Charitable Giving Tips.