| Know the Charity Before You Give |
| Brought to you by the State of Washington, Office of the Secretary of State |
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| The most important thing to remember is that you should find out as much as you can about the soliciting charity before you make a |
| contribution. If you are asked to make a charitable donation -- either in person, by phone, or by mail -- ask questions! |
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| 1. Is the request coming from a charity or a commercial fundraiser? |
| 2. Is the charity or commercial fundraiser registered with the Secretary of State as required by law? |
| 3. What is the name, address, and telephone number of the organization asking for the donation? |
| 4. Exactly how will the donation be used? |
| 5. What percentage of the contribution will actually be spent on the charitable purpose of the organization? (In some instances, less than |
| 20 percent of the money collected by a commercial fundraiser goes to the client charity). |
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| Q: What is a "Charitable Organization?" |
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| A: A Charitable Organization is any entity that solicits or collects contributions from the public, where the contribution is, or is said to be, |
| used to support a charitable activity. Charitable activity includes, but is not limited to, education, recreational, social, patriotic, legal |
| defense, benevolent, or health causes. |
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| Q: Who must register? |
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| A: The Charitable Solicitations Act applies to almost every person or entity that conducts charitable solicitations in the State of Washington. |
| In most cases, involvement in this type of activity generally requires registration with the state. This includes organizations located outside |
| the State of Washington soliciting Washington State residents. "Charitable Organization" is broadly defined. If the entity conducts a |
| charitable solicitation, it is considered a "Charitable Organization" for purposes of this statute, even if you do not think of the entity as a |
| charity. |
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| Q: Are all Charities required to register with the Office of the Secretary of State? |
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| A: While most Charities must register, there are some entities exempt from the state registration requirements. The nature of the charity, the |
| the type of solicitation, and the amount raised from solicitations are distinguishing features of the exemptions. |
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| In Washington State, most organizations that are (1) strictly volunteer run and raising less than $25,000 from the public, (2) Political |
| organizations; (3) Fundraising on behalf of specific individuals, or (4) Churches or their integrated auxiliaries. Organizations that are |
| exempt from the registration requirements are encouraged to submit an "Optional Statement for an Exempt Organization" with the |
| the registration requirements are encouraged to submit an "Optional Statement for an Exempt Organization" with the Charities Program. |
| The application is not required, but does allow the Office of the Secretary of State to respond to customer inquires. For more information |
| For more information regarding qualifying for exemption from registration, please contact the Charities Program directly. |
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| Q: Do all states require a registration? |
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| A: Most states have some type of registration or filing process. It is necessary for organizations contemplating fundraising activities in other |
| states to research the individual state reporting requirements to ensure compliance prior to soliciting. |
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| Q: Why is registration required? |
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| A: Both the benefiting charities as well as the independent entities paid to solicit funds must, in most cases, provide financial and other |
| information about fundraising and their activities. The information is available to the public so that the consumer can learn more about |
| how their donation will be spent by the soliciting organization, before making a contribution. |
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| Registration with the Office of the Secretary of State should not be represented as an endorsement and will not prevent deception. |
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| Q: What is a Commercial Fundraiser or Professional Fundraiser? |
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| A: A commercial fundraiser is an independent entity that in exchange for compensation, conducts fundraising activities on behalf of Charities. |
| It is not unusual for commercial fundraisers to be retained and paid for their fundraising services by multiple Charitable Organizations. |
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| Verify the Information |
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| Q: I have just been solicited by a Charity. How can I tell if it is legitimate? |
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| A: The Office of the Secretary of State cannot address an organization's "legitimacy." We will be able to confirm if an organization has met |
| the state registration requirements. If the organization has properly registered, we will be able to supply general and financial information |
| as provided in the organization's registration documents. |
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| The information available from our office, combined with other available resources, is intended to assist the public in making informed |
decisions. |
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| Q: How can I check out a Charity? |
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A: You may contact the Office of the Secretary of State's Charities Program by calling our toll-free toll-free number 1-800-332-4483 (local |
| or out-of-state callers may dial 360-725-0378). |
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| You may also conduct an online search. |
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Other resources include your local Better Business Bureau, including several Internet sites that have been established to aid in the research |
| of Charitable Organizations. |
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| Q: How can I check out a commercial fundraiser? |
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| A: Commercial Fundraisers are also required to register annually with the Office of the Secretary of State Charities Program. Consumers |
| may contact the Charities Program by calling our toll-free number 1-800-332-4483 (local or out-of-state callers may dial 360-725-0378). |
| General and financial information is available and will assist potential donors in understanding how their contribution will be used. |
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| The Charities Program also publishes the "Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report" each year near the holiday season, when charitable |
| solicitations are at their peak. The report provides valuable information regarding how funds are distributed by commercial fundraisers to |
| their charity clients. Read the report. |
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| Q: What percentage of funds actually spent on the organization’s charitable purpose is considered an “acceptable” percentage? |
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| A: The Washington State Charitable Solicitations Act does not provide an "acceptable" or minimal percentage to be expended towards an |
| organization's program services. Anyone involved in making charitable contributions should predetermine their own "minimum percentage |
| standard" and support those organizations. |
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| Other Tips and Cautions |
| Before you decide to donate, request printed materials about the charity. |
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| Contact the beneficiaries of the charitable funds to determine if they are aware of the solicitation and have authorized use of their name. |
| Ask how the donations are used. |
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| Never give your credit card number to a telephone solicitor and don't pay by cash. Pay by check and make it payable to the charity, not |
| the fundraiser. |
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| Don't be fooled by a name. Some organizations use sympathetic sounding names, or names that closely resemble those of respected, |
| well-established charities. |
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| Don't give in to high-pressure "hardball" solicitations that demand an instant commitment. If the charity is legitimate, it should be willing to |
| give you time to make up your mind. |
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| Be wary of charities that offer to send a courier to collect your money immediately. If a solicitor comes to your door, ask for identification. |
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| Call the Secretary of State's Charities Information Hotline (toll-free in Washington State 1-800-332-GIVE) to confirm if the charity or |
| fundraiser is registered and to get further information about the organization's financial and charitable activities. |
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