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GRENADA STAR
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BI·WEEKLY
12/11/2009
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E~sy
In a December mood?
Feeling generous?
Wallet empty?
Not a problem, says Bill Moak,
president of the BetteL~usiness
Bureal,Lof Mississippi.
Give time.
"The personal rewards for vol-
unteering, especially during the
holiday season, can be as impor-
tant to charities as a cash contri-
bution," Moak said.
And he's right. There are \::ry
few service groups that coulIn't
use a hand, especially from some-
one who has a bit of expertise -
carpentry, plumbing, computer
trouble-shooting, bookkeeping ,
floor mopping.
If nothing else, buy or bake
some cookies and take them to
the office of an organization you
think is doing good work in your
community. You spend $5 and the
staff gets something invaluable
- a vote of encouragement.
Mississippians are the most
philanthropic people in Americ,a.
We've been told that for years.
The ranking is based on gi ving as
a percentage of income reported
to the Intern;tl 'B,evepue Service. ·
The fact we are a state with a lot
of low-income people and a lot
of church-going tithers provides
way to check out charities
Charlie
Mitchell
Columnist
part of the explanation. But not
all 01 ' I. People in this state will
really rally.
I saw what individuals, for-
mal and informal organizations
and nongovernment agencies did
in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina. Dozens of groups fed
thousan<!s of people for weeks.
I watched in a suburban
Baghdad community center as
paralyzed teens accepted - from
a Mississippi church - the fIrst
wheelchairs they'd ever had.
It's impressive how neighborly
Mississippians can be.
Others have noticed, too, and,
sadly, the world of charities has
.become infested with predators.
There are groups and individu-
als who make fortunes by using
deception to gain the compassion
of others.
Christmas is their feeding sea-
son.
So how do you tell if a donation
will actually do what you want
it to do?
A first step could be called
the "name test." It works almost
as well as a mathematical for-
mula. Here it is: The more emo-
tion-packed words in the orga-
nization's name, the more likely
the organization is not a char-
ity at all. Hence, if the mailman
brings you a solicitation from the
"Society to Provide Kittens to the
Blind Babies of Deaf Veterans,"
a questioning eyebrow should go
up. There are plenty of legitimate
charities that really aid animals,
vision-impaired children and
really assist veterans. But there
are also plenty of con artists
whose only priority is separating
you from your money. The harder
they pluck your heartstrings, the
more likely they can get a check.
Another term bogus groups like
to employ is "law enforcement"
or "fIrst responders." Every hon-
est person is grateful for law
enforcement and knows first
responders save lives. So it fol-
lows that scammers are not shy
about tapping into that gratitude.
In turn, they do very little, if
anything, to actually support law ing expenses against a charity.
enforcement or fIrst responders. If, however, a report shows a
The second step is using a tool charity spent 75 cents or more of
- an invaluable tool - the every donated dollar on overhead
Mississippi Legislature has made - and a surprising number do
available to the public through . - wary donors might choose to
the Secretary of State's Office give their checks to organizations
(www.sos.state.ms.us) for sev- that minimize their internal costs
eral years. to maximize their effect.
An armual report on all charities Back to a BBB idea. Moak
registered to ask for money from says, and it's true, that charities
Mississippians (and registration are limited by the tax code on
is required) is available online in how much, if any, lobbying they
full and searchable formats . Most can do. Volunteers, however, can
public libraries have printed ver- be their advocates and write let-
sions. ters on their behalf.
When contacted and asked to If people have money to give,
give money, a citizen can check the best advice is to give it close
the registry before donating. to home to known, trusted indi-
If the charity isn't listed, it's viduals and organizations. Any
operating illegally. group soliciting a gift by mail,
If a charity is listecl, don't expect telephone or otherwise should be
the state to try to tell you whether checked out. The state makes it
it's on the level. It's a free coun- pretty easy to do.
try. Anyone can ask for money. And remember money, as BBB
Whatthe annual reports do show says, is not the only thing that
is how much money a group has value. Time does, too. As
raised in the most recent year, do words and actions showing
the cost of raising the money, the support.
cost of administrative staff and
the amount actually spent for the Charlie Mitchell is executive
stated purpose. editor of Th e Vicksburg Post.
It does cost money to raise Write to him at Box 821668,
money, so it would be wrong to Vicksburg, MS 39182, or e-mail
hold all staff salaries or fundrais- cmitchell@vicksburgpost.com.