How to help victims of the fires in Hawaii: reliable funds
The inhabitants of Maui suffered massive destruction. Wildfires devastated Hawaiiand the Big Island of Hawaii. Over 50 dead, homes and businesses destroyed, nearly 11 people struggling with power outagese electricity. How can you help them, said the publication CNN.
The fires, fueled in part by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, have yet to be contained, and the overall extent of damage is not yet known. Rebuilding the island will likely take months or even years.
CNN Impact Your World is raising funds to support relief efforts. Go to link, To help.
If you would like to donate money to help those affected by the Hawaii wildfires, or would like to support a charitable cause close to your heart, there are certain steps that are important to follow. By adhering to a certain algorithm of actions, you will be sure that the money you transferred will reach your addressee.
How to choose a charity
If you've decided to donate to a charity but don't know where to start, searching the internet for causes you're interested in with the word "charity" can be a helpful place to start, but shouldn't be limited to that. Several websites help people find and support legitimate charities, including Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance и CharityWatch.
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Dig deeper into the reputation of the legitimate organization you plan to support. Visit her website and read the About Us page. It may be better to look for alternatives if the charity's website does not state its mission or who it serves.
The US Federal Trade Commission suggests that online searches for any charitable organization include the words “complaint”, “review”, or “fraud” (complaint, review, fraud, scam) in the search terms. This should show any bad reviews or red flags about this or that organization.
It's also helpful to know whether your chosen group is registered as a 501(c)3, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Find her in IRS Exempt Entity Lookup System. If the charity is on Form 501(c)3, you can keep a record of your contribution for tax purposes because it is tax-deductible.
When making a donation, it is best to use a credit card or check as these payments are easy to track. After donating to charity, check your bank account and credit card statements to make sure that only the agreed amount was charged to you.
Tips for donating through platforms like GoFundMe
The best way to avoid additional fees when donating to a charity is to send funds directly through a non-profit organization. By making donations through platforms such as GoFundMe, Act Blue or win red, be sure to check if the site is holding a portion of your donation as a processing fee.
There are countless social initiatives and crowdfunding campaigns on social media to solicit donations, but be aware that sometimes scammers can take advantage of human kindness.
For many crowdfunding sites, your money will first go directly to the crowdfunding organizer and not to the final recipient of the donations. So double-check if the organizer will transfer the funds to your addressee.
GoFundMe, one of the largest crowdfunding platforms, has stated that fraudulent campaigns are rare, accounting for less than 1% on its platform.
“The vast majority of fundraising on the site is safe and legal,” the company said in a statement.
GoFundMe said that for larger disasters like the wildfires on Maui, they usually create centralized center for verified fundraisers.
However, when choosing other reasons to donate on the platform, GoFundMe advises users to always review the fundraising page, check for comments and information about who else has donated, and contact the fundraiser or GoFundMe directly if there are any further concerns or questions.
There are many platforms for crowdfunding campaigns, and each has its own rules. The safest way to donate through social media and crowdfunding is to only donate to people you know.
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Beware of scammers
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are some clear signs that the fundraising organization is not legitimate. Be wary of callers asking for fees. While many legitimate organizations call for donations, make sure you listen carefully to the name of the charity, write it down, and then research it before promising a donation, the FTC warns.
Don't let anyone rush you into making an immediate donation over the phone; it will take time to do proper research. Never donate via bank transfer or gift card, which is hard to trace if something goes wrong.
Also, if an organization insists on donating using cryptocurrencies or some other hard-to-trace form of payment, this should alert you. Avoid sending funds from payment apps like Venmo or Zelle. These apps should only be used to send money to people you know, as it's hard to get the funds back after someone has received it.
Be sure to report charity scams directly to Federal Trade Commission or your state regulator.
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