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Checklist for making a donation
Donating is a lovely gesture, but many people find it difficult to ask the right questions beforehand. Where does the money actually go? Is the organisation trustworthy? And how can you ensure you’ll have a donation receipt to hand later on, without having to search for it at length? A short checklist for donating helps to clarify such questions before you decide on an organisation. That way, a good intention turns into a donation that actually reaches its destination and makes a difference.
Before donating: Check the organisation
Before transferring any money at all, it’s worth taking a closer look at the organisation itself. Many people donate spontaneously, for example after seeing a moving social media post or a appeal for donations on television. That’s fine in principle, but a few minutes’ research can prevent you from donating to the wrong cause.
A first point to consider is whether the organisation holds a recognised quality mark. In Germany, the best-known of these is the DZI charity seal, which is awarded only to organisations that disclose their finances and have them audited regularly. Anyone wishing to support an organisation without such a seal can still do so responsibly, but should then take a closer look themselves: Are there annual reports? Are specific projects named? Is it possible to trace how much money actually goes towards the work on the ground?
Avoiding mistakes when donating
Small but annoying mistakes often occur, particularly with spontaneous donations. If you are aware of these, you can avoid them with little effort:
- The organisation is not vetted, but is simply chosen on the basis of an emotional appeal
- The purpose of the donation is not specified, even though this would be important for a specific project
- Personal data is passed on via insecure payment channels
- A donation receipt is not requested, even though a tax deduction would have been possible
- When responding to appeals for donations on social media, no checks are made to ensure that the page belongs to the organisation’s official account
These mistakes when donating can easily be avoided with a little care. It is often enough simply to visit the organisation’s official website, rather than following a link from a message or a comment, and check there to see which payment methods are available.
When making a donation: What to look out for
Once you’ve decided on an organisation, it’s time to make the actual donation. Here, too, there are a few points to bear in mind to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Payment method and reference
The safest option is usually to make a transfer directly via the organisation’s official website or by standard bank transfer. If you wish to specify a particular purpose – such as a specific project or a sponsorship – you should note this in the payment reference so that the donation can be clearly allocated. Many organisations now also offer online forms where you can select directly how you would like your donation to be used.
Anyone who donates regularly – for example, monthly via a standing order – should also bear in mind that this sort of recurring support is particularly valuable to charities. Unlike one-off donations, it allows for long-term planning, which is especially important for ongoing projects such as education or healthcare.
Don’t forget the donation receipt
One point that is often overlooked is the donation receipt. In Germany, donations to charitable organisations are tax-deductible, provided you have the relevant proof. For smaller amounts, a bank statement together with a simplified confirmation from the organisation is often sufficient. For larger sums, an official donation receipt is usually issued.
It’s worth filing these documents straight after making a donation, rather than having to hunt them down when it’s time to complete your tax return. Many organisations send out their donation receipts automatically at the start of the year for the previous year, sometimes digitally via email. If you’re unsure whether a receipt has arrived, you can always check directly with the organisation.
After making a donation: monitoring and building trust
It’s also a good idea to stay in touch a little after making a donation. Reputable organisations keep their supporters regularly informed about what happens to the donations, for example through newsletters, annual reports or personal feedback in the case of sponsorships. Those who receive such information are better able to assess whether their decision was the right one, whilst at the same time gaining greater confidence in their ongoing support.
Another important aspect in this context is being able to recognise donation scams. Unfortunately, fake donation websites or fraudulent appeals posing as well-known organisations crop up time and again, particularly following natural disasters or other current events. Checking the web address, making a quick comparison with the official website and exercising a healthy dose of scepticism when faced with unusually urgent appeals provide reliable protection against such scams.
If you keep this simple checklist in mind, you can donate with peace of mind, without having to constantly worry about whether the money is actually reaching its intended destination. Ultimately, what matters is that you do your research beforehand, pay attention to a few formal details whilst making the donation, and remain open to feedback from the organisation afterwards. In this way, a good intention turns into support that actually makes a difference and reaches the people who need it most.