Have you ever received a letter in the mail, a phone call while eating dinner or been asked for a donation while walking down the street? These are just a couple of ways charities and non-profit organizations raise funds for their programs and organizations. We, as consumers, are often asked to donate quickly and without a lot of information. We are asked to make an informed giving decision on an organization that we may or may not know anything about. The Better Business Bureau and the Wise Giving Alliance have 20 standards for charitable giving that are used to evaluate charities and non-profit organizations to assist donors in making informed giving decisions. These standards evaluate organizations in the areas of: Governance, Finances, Organizational Effectiveness Assessment, Solicitations and Fundraising. As a donor, you owe it to yourself to have as much information as possible before you make a contribution to an organization. You want to be able to make sure your money is going to the right organization(s) and the organization(s) is/are using your donation in a way you are comfortable with. Don’t just be a donor, be an informed donor