Still the most common way that charities interact with donors, it is likely everyone has received a mail solicitation from a charity at some point in their life. This type of fundraising is commonly used because it is still effective. It allows the charity to reach you directly with stories of those helped by their programs, and make the case for you to give.

You can also look for the BBB Accredited Charity Seal logo on the mail appeals of participating Accredited Charities. It’s a quick way to know that the charity meets our [20 Standards for Charity Accounability.]

As most donors know, giving to one charity by mail often leads to many more solicitations. Some charities buy and sell lists of donor names, addresses and phone numbers in order to expand their reach. In order to prevent your information from being shared, look for a check-off box on the return slip in the appeal that asks for them not to do so. Also, take a look at [our tips for getting off of a mailing list].

Most of us have had a meal interrupted by a telemarketer, and chances are some of those calls have come from a charity seeking a donation. Similar to direct mail, telemarketing is a way for charities to reach you and make their case for why you should donate.

You should never feel pressured to give immediately on the phone. If you are interested in making a donation, we suggest you ask that they send you some materials, such as an annual report or financial information, to help you make your giving decision. [See the rest of our tips for responding to telemarketers.]

Making a donation to a charity through their website or another online portal is quick and easy. Oftentimes, charities will have a lot of information about their programs as well as their financial health on their website. Also, look for the BBB Accredited Charity Seal on the charity’s website to know right away that they are an Accredited Charity.

When engaging with any website, we recommend making sure that the information you submit is encrypted and kept secure. Look for a link to the site’s privacy policy, which is usually located in the footer of the page, to verify that they have procedures in place to protect your information.

Some charities, particularly in response to disasters, have made it possible to give through text message. They will usually advertise texting a code or phrase to a specific number, which will trigger a donation of a certain amount. These donations are then added to your phone bill.

Since these types of donations have become more popular in response to disasters, we recommend [our tips on giving to disaster relief.]

Whether donating food to a local pantry or finding a convenient place to get rid of used clothing or other goods, many donors are interested in making donations of non-cash items to charity. This can take the form of a local charity thrift store, or even a bin located in a parking lot.

When giving in response to an emergency, keep in mind that many charities would prefer donations of money rather than goods, because they are often able to obtain food and water at a highly discounted rate, which would be more efficient than the cost you pay at the grocery store. [See the rest of our tips on donating items.]

Donating your car (or other property) to charity is often advertised as a convenient way to get rid of your property while also making a tax-deductible contribution. Some donors have the impression that the charity itself will use the car, however, keep in mind that most charities will use a third party company to auction off the car and use the selling price as a donation. Your tax-deductible amount is based on this auction price.

It is also important to remember when donating a car to transfer the title over to the charity. You don’t want to be responsible for any tickets incurred by the new owners. [Read the rest of our tips for donating a car.]

Making a commitment to give to a charity in the future, generally through setting up an annuity or a bequest (adding the charity to your will), is a way to support your favorite charity in a lasting way. Most charities have information on what types of planned giving they accept and how you can begin the process. If you are interested in this type of giving, [review our tips on the subject.]

Some donors may choose to also give their time to their favorite cause. Whether it involves building a house, fostering animals, or just office work, many charities rely on their volunteers to carry out their mission

Volunteering can be a rewarding way to get directly involved with the work of the charity. Check a charity’s website to see what types of volunteer opportunities they have, and check them out here on give.org to verify whether they are a BBB Accredited Charity.

Some charities have begun to embrace receiving donations of cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum. The additional benefit of this type of donation is the security of information and the permanent record of your donation, which is made using blockchain technology.

For those that own some cryptocurrency and are interested in giving, we have created an online platform for donating to BBB Accredited charities that accept it, GiveSafely.io