Business ProfileforOhana Publications LLC

BBB Advisory #317
Law Enforcement Fundraising Groups

When you get a call or a letter from a law enforcement group asking you to give a monetary donation, your first reaction is probably a generous one. The BBB cautions you to get all the facts on the organization to make an informed giving decision.

One of the most common problems with law enforcement "look-a-likes" is the way they spend the money solicited from the public. Some groups incur high fundraising costs while spending very little on programs or services for the organization. Other problems include an unwillingness to disclose information and misleading the public as to the nature of the organization or use of funds.

Check out an organization's history and ask basic questions to help determine if you are donating to a truly worthy cause. The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips.

1. Ask how much of your money will actually go to the law enforcement programs.
2. Ask if a professional fundraising firm is being used for the program and find out how much of your money will go to the fundraiser.
3. Ask what programs your donation will support.
4. Your gift may not be deductible as a charitable donation. Only some of them are eligible to receive charitable donations deductible for federal income tax purposes.
5. Get a BBB report to check on the reputation of the soliciting organization
6. Ask the soliciting group for printed information--a brochure describing the programs, a list of its board members, its latest financial statements.
7. You are not obligated to make a contribution on the spot or have a "representative" of the organization come to your home or office to pick up the contribution.
8. Keeps records of all previous donations, so you can easily verify whether you donated to a group the prior year.
9. If you've made the decision to support the organization, write a check, rather than give cash.

This service is brought to you by the Hawaii members of the Better Business Bureau.