With the holiday charitable giving season now underway, the Colorado Secretary of State reminds those who are planning on sharing their generosity to make sure they are giving wisely.  Once again Coloradans will have ample opportunities to give this time of year, especially with Colorado Gives Day on December 7.

“Amid the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, one constant has been the overwhelming generosity of Coloradans,” said Secretary Griswold.  “While this generosity is inspiring, it’s important to give, but also to give wisely.”

Some things to keep in mind during the holiday giving season include:

• ColoradoGives takes the guesswork out of giving by vetting all the nonprofits on the site to make sure they are in good standing. If you are giving to a charity outside of ColoradoGives.org, it is important to confirm the organization is registered and current at checkthecharity.com.
• Watch out for charities with names that sound similar to well-known, reputable organizations. Sometimes these sound-alike names are simply intended to confuse donors.
• Avoid clicking on links to charities on unfamiliar websites or in texts or emails. These may take you to a lookalike website where you will be asked to provide personal financial information or to click on something that downloads harmful malware into your computer.
• There is no need to give on the spot, whether to a telemarketer or door-to-door solicitor. If you feel pressured or uncomfortable, just say, “No, thank you” or hang up.
• Do not pay in cash. Donate by check made payable to the charity or use the charity’s website to donate by credit card.

When giving to a charity outside of ColoradoGives.org, use these tips  from the Secretary of State’s Office. Over 14,000 charities have registered with the Secretary of State, making www.ColoradoSOS.gov a valuable resource for those looking for information on nonprofit organizations.  Charities annually file information with the Secretary of State’s Office about their programs, leadership, and financial efficiency which is information readily available to the public online.

If you believe that you have been solicited by a fraudulent charity, you can file a complaint with the Secretary of State or the Attorney General.

Attorney General, 1-800-222-4444, www.coag.gov
Secretary of State, 303-894-2200, www.ColoradoSOS.gov.

Additional resources available from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office include tips for Internet and Social Media Solicitations and questions that potential donors can ask if they are solicited by phone.