Giving Tuesday Provides Chance To Support Charities, But Watch Out For Scams

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Charity word cloud Florida - It's Giving Tuesday, and that means it's time to support charitable organizations - but watch out for scams. Giving Tuesday is a collaborative day of giving that follows the biggest spending weekend of the year (Black Friday and Cyber Monday). "Last year, I know Giving Tuesday helped support over $117 million to charitable organizations across the United States," said Amber Marcoux, Community Outreach Director for Halifax Humane Society. "And it helped raise awareness for over 45,000 organizations." Halifax Humane Society is asking people to make a tax deductible donation at HalifaxHumaneSociety.org. Marcoux says if you're not able to donate money, you should volunteer or attend events. The Flagler Humane Society is also asking for donations on Giving Tuesday. The FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is urging everyone to be careful about who they give money to on Giving Tuesday. You can see how a charity might spend the money you donate to them by checking the Department's Check-A-Charity tool, which provides detailed financial info on charities registered in the state. Residents are also being urged to watch out for scams. Scammers frequently pretend to be a real charity and use names similar to well-known charities. Don't make a decision solely on the name you hear or see, and don't give in to high-pressure, overly emotional appeals. Keep good records of any donations you make. Get a receipt or a copy of your donation, including the total amount that you contributed. Keep in mind that not all organizations are true charities which are eligible to get tax-deductible contributions. image004

(Image courtesy HHS)

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