How to Check If a Charity Is Tax-Exempt Before You Donate
Search a charity's name and EIN, read its IRS record, and confirm state registration before you give.
Check the charity in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate. Type its exact legal name or nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN) to see if gifts qualify as tax-deductible. Tax-exempt means the IRS recognizes a group as excused from federal income tax.
For donors, the key part is 501(c)(3) status, which lets qualifying gifts count as charitable deductions. A two-minute check helps you tell a qualifying charity from an appeal that only sounds charitable.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
Find the exact name and EIN
Copy the legal name and EIN from the charity's own website. Type the web address directly instead of clicking a link in an email or text. Charities often use short slogans or local chapter names that differ from their legal filing.
The legal name avoids a missed match. The Internal Revenue Service says you can search by name or nine-digit EIN in its guide to checking deductible donations. You can also try doing-business-as names and sort by name, EIN, state, and country.
Save the EIN once you find the right record.
- Use the full legal name, not a nickname or campaign name.
- Keep the nine-digit EIN handy for a direct match.
- Try a doing-business-as name if the first search shows no result.
Read the IRS listing carefully
Look for eligibility for tax-deductible contributions under Pub. 78 data. That flag answers the deduction question directly.
Open the rest of the same record for context before you decide. The Internal Revenue Service says the same record shows status, subsection such as 501(c)(3), and filings in the Tax Exempt Organization Search description. It also links the determination letter and filed Form 990-series returns.
Form 990 is the annual information return many tax-exempt groups file about finances. Also check for loss of exemption after missed filings. A group that fails to file a required Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, or 990-PF for three straight years loses exemption under section 6033(j).
The search tool includes that Automatic Revocation List, so skip a deduction claim if the name appears there.
Know which appeals do not qualify
You must give to a qualifying charity to claim a deduction. Gifts to individuals never count, even for medical bills or disaster relief. The same rule applies to political action committees.
A political gift is not a charitable gift. Many appeals for veterans or first responders also do not qualify. Fundraisers may use patriotic language while raising money for a paid campaign or noncharitable group.
If the IRS record does not show qualifying status, treat any gift as personal support rather than a deductible donation.
Confirm state registration, then pay with a record
Most states require charities or their fundraisers to register before they ask for money. Check both the charity and any hired fundraiser with your state charity regulator. The Federal Trade Commission points donors to state regulators through the National Association of State Charity Officials directory.
That check catches registration gaps the federal search does not show. One absence needs care. Churches and some church-related groups can count as 501(c)(3) without applying, and they generally need not file Form 990.
A missing filing alone does not mean the group lacks status. Before you give, look for complaints and independent ratings as well as the federal and state records. Pay by card or check so you keep proof of the amount and recipient.