How to Verify a Charity Before Giving This Christmas
Check IRS status, state registration, and 990 finances before you donate to a holiday charity.
To verify a charity before giving this Christmas, confirm its tax-exempt status in the IRS search tool and check its state registration and financial record. Tax-exempt status means the IRS recognizes the group as eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Start with the charity's exact legal name, website, and mailing address.
Then work through tax status, finances, and registration before you donate.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
Get the exact identity first
Dishonest fundraisers use sound-alike names to piggyback on well-known charities. The Federal Trade Commission advises getting the exact name, website, and mailing address first in the FTC guide to giving. Type the charity's own website address into your browser rather than following a social-link click.
Pay by card or check so you have a record, and keep the receipt for tax purposes.
Confirm tax-exempt status and check the Form 990
The Internal Revenue Service says donors can search by legal name, DBA name, or EIN in the IRS announcement about the search tool. The same IRS tool draws on deductibility data, Form 990-series filings, and the automatic-revocation list. A group that missed filings can lose exemption, so check for active status.
Form 990 discloses revenue, expenses, and executive pay. Use it to check program-spending ratios and financial health, including fundraising costs relative to program work.
Check state registration and independent evaluations
Most states require charities and paid fundraisers to register before soliciting. The National Association of State Charity Officials points donors to state regulators through the NASCO state regulator directory. Verify both the charity and any paid fundraiser that contacted you.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluates soliciting charities at no charge against 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, with reports published free at Give.org. Charity Navigator assigns zero-to-four-star ratings from a 0-100 score across beacons including Accountability and Finance, using Form 990 measures like program-expense ratio and fundraising efficiency.
Give safely and watch for pressure
Avoid donating by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash-only demands. The Federal Trade Commission also advises searching the charity's name plus complaint or review before giving. Watchdog databases do not cover every charity.
The Federal Trade Commission notes that small, new, or religious groups may have no rating, a gap exploited by groups that showed up overnight. When coverage is missing, lean harder on IRS status, state registration, and the Form 990.
- Get exact name, website, and address before giving.
- Confirm IRS tax-exempt status and read the Form 990.
- Verify state registration for the charity and fundraiser.
- Check BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator reports.
- Give through the charity's own typed website address and report misuse at ReportFraud.ftc.gov plus the state regulator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a new charity be legitimate with no watchdog rating?
Yes. Small, new, or religious groups may have no rating, so confirm IRS status, state registration, and Form 990 data instead.
Where do I report a problem with a holiday solicitation?
Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state charity regulator.