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Giving Tuesday falls on December 1. The IRS and the Federal Trade Commission both publish free guidance on how to check a charity. The IRS offers a search tool for tax-exempt status. The FTC lists research sources and warning signs.
How to check a charity: the numbers and tools
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Giving Tuesday 2026 | December 1 |
| IRS tool | Tax Exempt Organization Search |
| Watchdog sites named by the FTC | 4 |
| Written acknowledgment required for gifts of | $250 or more |
The IRS search tool
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search shows whether an organization can receive tax-deductible contributions. It uses Publication 78 data. It also holds the Automatic Revocation of Exemption List, Form 990 returns, Form 990-N e-Postcards and determination letters.
The IRS says its data is behind. It is still processing paper-filed Form 990 returns received in 2021 and later. A missing record may come from that backlog, so it is not proof of a problem.
The tool answers one question, which is legal status. It does not score how a charity spends its money. It does not say whether a specific appeal in your inbox came from the charity. To check a charity’s spending and a specific appeal, use the other sources below.
Watchdog ratings
The FTC’s advice on donating wisely names four research sources. They are the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and GuideStar. A charity can look different on each one. Reading two gives a fuller view than reading one.
State registration
Registration is a second legal check, separate from IRS status. It is a way to check a charity’s right to ask for money in your state.
Many states require charities and fundraisers to register. The FTC says to find out whether a charity must be registered in your state. It points to the National Association of State Charity Officials. If a charity should be registered and is not, the FTC says to give to a different one.
Warning signs listed by the FTC
The FTC lists four warning signs. The first is a charity that appears suddenly after a current event. The second is a donation request by email. Links and attachments in those emails can install malware. The third is a charity appeal on social media. Appeals there are not always real. The fourth is a text-to-donate message. The FTC says to confirm the number with the source first. The charge appears on your phone bill, but the donation is not immediate.
Naming your cause
The FTC suggests giving to charities you already know and trust. It also says to name the cause when you donate. A gift marked for disaster relief, for example, goes to relief, not to a general fund. That advice is from a page about disaster giving, and the same principle applies to any appeal for a specific need.
Paying and keeping records
The FTC page cited here does not rank payment methods. A credit card statement and a canceled check both leave a record. Tax rules require a written acknowledgment from the charity for gifts of $250 or more. Save each acknowledgment with your tax papers.
If you suspect a scam, you can report it to the FTC through its ReportFraud site.
Putting the steps in order
A simple order works. Search the IRS tool first. Then read one or two watchdog pages. Then confirm state registration. Last, look at how the request reached you. A charity that passes all four checks is still your choice to support, but the basic questions will be answered.
Fit giving into your budget
Many people decide on giving in the same weeks they buy gifts and pay winter bills. Setting a giving amount first makes it easier to skip appeals you did not plan for. The Jolt Journal’s guide on how to make a budget in one evening shows how to add a giving line. The guide to winter heating costs shows what households may pay this season. Readers who want to check a charity can do it in a few minutes using the tools above.
