How to Verify a Charity Before You Donate This Giving Tuesday
Use EIN checks, watchdog ratings and safe payment steps to vet any charity before December 1.
Verify a charity by matching its exact legal name and EIN, its tax ID number, in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Then confirm it authorized the appeal, review watchdog evaluations, and pay by check or card directly. GivingTuesday, the Tuesday-after-Thanksgiving day for charitable giving, falls on December 1, 2026, according to GivingTuesday in the 2026 site overview.
A quick check now helps you give on the day without rushing.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 02, 2026.
Confirm tax status with the IRS
The Internal Revenue Service says its Tax Exempt Organization Search confirms tax-exempt status and Pub. 78 eligibility for tax-deductible gifts. You can search by name or EIN to see Form 990 filings, revocation history, and determination letters, as explained in the IRS search guide.
Ask the fundraiser for the exact legal name and EIN, then compare letter by letter. Nicknames and similar names often differ from the registered charity.
Confirm the appeal is authorized
The Federal Trade Commission checklist says to get the exact legal name and EIN and call the charity to confirm it authorized the solicitation. If staff do not know about the appeal, treat that as a warning sign and pause. The Federal Trade Commission tells donors to search the charity name plus complaint, review, rating, or scam.
It also urges donors to slow down when callers press for an immediate phone gift, as noted in the FTC giving alert.
- Ask for legal name, EIN, and callback number.
- Call the charity directly to confirm the appeal.
- Search the name plus complaint, review, rating, or scam.
Compare financial health and results
BBB's Give.org evaluates nationally soliciting charities at no charge against 20 Standards for governance, results reporting, finances, and truthful communications. Groups meeting all 20 earn Accredited Charity status, according to the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Charity Navigator assigns 0-4 stars from four beacons for Accountability and Finance, Culture and Community, Leadership and Adaptability, and Impact and Results.
The guide helps donors compare financial health and impact, as described by Charity Navigator in the ratings guide.
Understand limits, pay safely, and report problems
IRS listing proves legal status, not effective use, so check the state charity regulator for charity and fundraiser registration. Read the Form 990 before you decide on the amount and timing. Pay by check or card directly to the charity and keep the receipt for your records.
If an appeal looks wrong, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and skip the gift.