When a charity makes an emotional appeal for donations, you may be tempted to give first and ask questions later. But not all groups calling themselves charities are created equal. Consider these points before opening your heart and your wallet.

• Is this really the organization you think it is? Some appeals for money deliberately create confusion by using a name that sounds similar to that of a better known group.
• Are the facts of an appeal compelling? Try not to be overly influenced by moving stories or dramatic pictures. Concentrate on the substance of the message that is delivered. Request concrete information on what the charity is doing to address the problems it describes, such as the number of people the group fed, the dollars spent on medical research grants or the acres of land it protected.
• Do you endorse the charity’s goals and methods? Let’s say a group’s aim is to fight a particular disease. Does the organization fund research to test treatments or find a cure, conduct campaigns to educate the public or provide services to patients and their families? It’s important that you support both the group’s ends and its means.
• Does most of the money raised actually go for program activities? The majority of a charity’s annual expenses should be spent on its various programs. Make sure that’s the case by getting and reading a copy of the annual report. You can use either the annual report or tax returns to see how program spending and fund raising costs compare to the charity’s income.