Tips for Choosing a Charity: A Donor's 10-Step Guide for Giving Wisely

Dear Readers:

Since this blog is intended to serve both donors and nonprofits, from time to time I will share links to other valuable content that I believe will be beneficial to you. The article below was first published in December 2005 and was authored by Susan Coffman,  the Editorial Director at Guidestar. I believe that donors and charitibale organizations alike can learn from these valuable tips about how donors can and should select the charities to which they contribute. I hope you find the article valuable, as well!

 Renae

 Reprinted from Guidestar; reprinted with permission.

 Here are GuideStar's tips for donors who want to give with their heads as well as their hearts.

Researching Charities

1. Clarify your values.
   
   • Do this before you open your checkbook, volunteer your time, or look at that letter from a charity.
     
2. Identify your preferences.
   
   • Ask yourself: "What is important to me?" The environment? Education? Hunger? Animal welfare? Helping sick children?
   • Where should the charity do its work—in your neighborhood, region, the nation, or internationally?
   • Ask yourself if you want to support a large or small charity, a new or an old one.
     
3. Search the GuideStar database to find charities that meet your criteria.
   
4. Focus on the mission.
   
   • Look at each charity's description in the GuideStar search results, on its Web site, or in its literature.
   • Find the nonprofits that fit best with your values.
     
5. Eliminate organizations that don't meet your criteria.
   Now you're ready to look more closely at these organizations.

Evaluating Charities

6. Verify a charity's legitimacy.
   
   • If you find a charity on GuideStar (www.guidestar.org), you know it's legitimate—all nonprofits listed on GuideStar are either registered with the IRS or have given us proof of their status as legitimate nonprofits that meet the IRS criteria for tax-exempt organizations. You can see at a glance if your contribution will be deductible.
   • If the charity is not on GuideStar, ask to see its letter of determination.
   • If the organization is faith based, ask to see its official listing in a directory for its denomination.
     
7. Get the cold, hard facts. A reputable organization will:
   • Define its mission and programs clearly.
   • Have measurable goals.
   • Use concrete criteria to describe its achievements.
     
8. Compare apples to apples.
   Be sure to compare charities that do the same kind of work, especially if you're looking at their finances. The type of work a charity does can affect its operating costs dramatically.
   
9. Avoid charities that won't share information or pressure you. Reputable nonprofits:
   
   • Will discuss their programs and finances.
   • Don't use pressure tactics.
   • Are willing to send you literature about their work or direct you to a Web site.
   • Will take "no" for an answer.
     
10. Trust your instincts.
    If you still have doubts about a charity, don't contribute to it. Instead, find another nonprofit that does the same kind of work and with which you feel comfortable, then make your donation.

Suzanne E. Coffman, December 2005
 Guidestar.org

Auction Items Wow Winefest Crowd! by Renae Brantley

June 12, 2011

Cloudy skies and chilly temperatures did not dampen the spirits of more than 400 supporters of the Crisis Center, at their 16^th Annual Winefest and Auction. The picturesque setting of Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres sampling and auction bidding. 

View Slideshow.

The Winefest Committee gathered a magnificent display of auction items to attract bidders at every price point. As always, the Live auction items caused some fast and furious competition among bidders. But none as much as the trip for 2 to the luxurious Brush Creek Lodge & Spa in Saratoga, Wyoming, the newest property in the White Lodging chain. Intense back and forth bidding also took place for the front row seats for the Black Hawks, the Lima Lima Show Team Flight Experience, the private dining for 12 at Jack Binion’s Steak House, and the Sanibel Island getaway!. And, hats off to the committee for managing to snag a much-coveted tour of U.S Steel’s Gary Works plant, an experience that hasn’t been available to the general public for more than a decade!

Shirley Caylor, Executive Director at the Crisis Center and her staff, including Nikki Wielgos, Sandra Porter-Phillips, Barbara Wisdom, Gavin Mariano, Willie Perry, Bill Robinson, and a host of others continue to do some amazing work with teens, families and seniors in crisis, or in need of interventions to improve their daily lives. The proceeds from the Winefest will help to continue their much-needed work in the community.

Congratulations on a job well done to Andy Arnold, John Diederich, and Tom Collins , event chairs, and their committee: Sue Arnold, Speros Batistados, Julie Bieszczat, Charlie Blum, David Bochnowski, Keith Bruxvoort, George Carberry, Carla M. Cohen, Bonnie Coleman, Joyce Davis, Vic Demeyer, Timothy Fesko, Karen Fulkerson, Bunny Furlin, Helen Garrison, Susan Griffin , Fred Halpern, Yvonne Hoff, Katie Holderby, Vance Kenney, Leslie Kiefer, Laura Kittle, Alexander Koleff, Teresa Krasinski , Patrick Lee, Todd A. Leeth, Mark Maassel, Julie Masterson, Thomas McDermott, Bishop Dale Melczek, Shar Miller, Suzanne Mulshine, Rita Nangle, Paul Onest, Joel Palaschak, Cyndy Paliga, Jim Peller, Joann Plank, Tom Ploski, Craig Pratt, Andrea Pearman, Len Schmidt, Janet Schulte, Linda Skolak, Tom Sourlis, Scott Steinwart, Tom Stevens, Christine Swan, Lisa Tatina, Dave VanDyke, Anne VanKeppel, Glenn Vician, Donald J. Weiss, Robert Welsh, Bruce White, and Crisis Center committee members Shirley Caylor, Barbara Wisdom, and Nikki Wielgos.

Renae Brantley

©Renae Brantley

Now it's easier than ever to submit your philanthropic news and event information to Giving Greater Chicago™. Visit the Get Featured in Giving Greater Chicago page on my website www.TheGrantConnection.net  and use the easy to complete form to submit your info!

Tony Award for Lookingglass! by Renae Brantley

June 11, 2011

Tomorrow June 12, 2011, Chicago once again proves that it may be referred to as the Second City, but it is world- class in every way! Lookingglass Theatre will take the stage as the honoree at the 44^th Annual telecast of the Tony Awards®, to receive the Tony for Best Regional Theatre. That really shouldn't surprise anyone who is a patron of Chicago theatre. Lookingglass is a soaring, leaping, visual and spiritual experience that everyone really should see and enjoy!

One of the most interesting aspects about Lookingglass is their expertise at integrating content with their unique performance process i.e. dramatizing Greek mythology, or new or existing works through acrobatics, aerial work, and circus arts. It will be interesting to see their new production, opening tonight, “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison,” a “World War II meets modern-day Los Angeles” production recounting lost love through the eyes of the 89 year-old title character.

No doubt, when Lookingglass is honored on Sunday at the Tonys, it will be as much for their exceptional theatrical productions, as for their commitment to educating audiences in the appreciation of the theatre arts. They have endeavored to expose young audiences to their distinctive techniques, ensuring that up-and-coming artists are challenged to think beyond the “tried and true” methods, even when performing traditional works.

The project was made possible by  Abbott Laboratories Fund; Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Crown Family Philanthropies; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; The JPMorgan Chase Foundation; The Duk Young Foundation; The Hearst Foundation; James S. Kemper Foundation; The Northern Trust Charitable Trust, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Polk Bros. Foundation; The Sacks Family Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; The Siragusa Foundation; Target, The Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association; Jake Canepari; Elizabeth Benoit; Susan Schaefer; and Mary Jo Basler.  These generous donors helped Lookingglass in this endeavor by funding a project that sends teaching artists into Chicago schools to give drama and theatre workshops, as well as for Summer Camps, and to assist them in creating new plays or dramatizing existing works.  And in fact, script development and production of the Lilka Kadison work was funded by Steven Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation.

It is truly impossible to speak at any length about Lookingglass without acknowledging the vision of its founders, a cutting-edge group of Northwestern alums, who created this process-driven theatre company with its unique and very physical representation of its artistic vision. The group of founders just happens to include actor David Schwimmer, of “Friends” fame, who maintains a very active presence in the life of Lookingglass.

The Junior Board of LG, founded by Joey Slotnick, Billy Dec, and Schwimmer, and comprised of a group of enthusiastic young Chicago-area professionals, will celebrate its 10^th anniversary on June 25^th with their Madhatter’s Ball at the John Hancock Observatory. The event is one of the most anticipated on Chicago’s social calendar. The Ball raises funds for Lookingglass' acclaimed education programs which encourage self-esteem and creativity in thousands of students every year. Tickets for the event are available by calling. 312-337-0665.

Chicago will be well represented on Sunday when more than 50 staff, board members, and artistic ensemble members gather in the audience at the Beacon Theatre to see LG receive the Tony Award®.

Best wishes!

©Renae Brantley

Now it's easier than ever to submit your philanthropic news and event information to Giving Greater Chicago™. Visit the Get Featured in Giving Greater Chicago page on my website www.TheGrantConnection.net  and use the easy to complete form to submit your info!

Do You Know a Classy Nonprofit or Nonprofit Supporter?

June 10, 2011

Then nominate that organization or person for a Classy Award!

The CLASSY Awards is an annual competition honoring the top philanthropic achievements by charities, business, and individuals across the country. It is sponsored by Stay Classy, an online social fundraising organization, along with partners like GuideStar, the Huffington Post, HandsOn Network and others.

Wine Fest Set for Crisis Center, Gary NAACP Welcomes New Life Members & Tops 1,000 Members, Sheation 1-2:22 Returns for Indiana Engagement!

June 7, 2011

Winefest  at Sand Creek!

Once again, the Crisis Center, Inc. located in Gary’s Miller community, will host one of Northwest Indiana’s most popular events on the social scene, the Wine Fest & Auction at Sand Creek Country Club, this Thursday from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Funds from the event are used to support a cadre of services for people, especially teens, in crisis, including Crisis Contact (a crisis line), counseling services, Teen Court (an early intervention and youth development program), Safe Place (outreach to youth in crisis), and Reassurance Contact (regular phone outreach to senior citizens). Shirley Caylor is the Executive Director.

If you’ve ever dined, golfed, or visited Sand Creek, you know that it is nestled among lush, beautiful gardens and landscaping, and is a stunning backdrop for this much anticipated annual event. The Wine Fest is noted for its huge selection of fabulous Live and Silent Auction items. This year’s grouping in the Live Auction includes vacation getaways to a Wyoming Ranch Lodge & Spa, Sanibel Island, Las Vegas, Dauphin Island, New Orleans, a private dining experience for 12, White Sox, Bears/Packers, and Blackhawks suite and ticket packages, a fun-filled Limo Wine Tour through Michigan, custom-made jewelry, a Dennis Davis painting, and it’s all topped off with an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly with the Lima Lima Show Team.

Tickets can still be purchased online at www.winefest.com for $85, which includes a sumptuous buffet of hors d’oevres, and a selection of wines to satisfy any connoisseur’s palate! It’s an experience you don’t want to miss! And, it’s so popular you’ll be able to catch up with friends from all along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Come out and support the Crisis Center programs. See you there!

Gary NAACP Tops 1,000 Members

The Gary Branch NAACP celebrated its 46^th Annual Life Membership Dinner at St. Timothy Community Church. Danny Bakewell, Sr., Chairman of the National Newspapers Publishers Association and keynote speaker, spoke on the banquet theme, “A Prescription for Building and Healing Our Community” with a call-to-action to the black community to “lean on one another.” His message  emphasized supporting and patronizing each other, black businesses, and taking responsibility for solving the problems in black communities.

Atty. Karen Pulliam, President of the Gary Branch, reports that of more than 2,200 NAACP branches nationally, only 22 have a membership role of 1,000 or more members, and the Gary Branch is one of those 22! The highlight of the evening was the welcoming of 10 new Life members into the Gary Branch. They include: Dr. Myrtle Campbell, who added the Golden Heritage designation to her Membership, and new Life Members, The Post-Tribune, Daisy Holliday-Purnell, Anne Thompson, Eliza Wilder, IUN Chancellor Dr. William Lowe, Methodist CEO Ian McFadden, Tyler & Kyren Winfrey, and NIPSCO manager Eddie Melton.

In addition to Pulliam, leadership of the Gary Branch includes Henry Bennett, Jr. 1^st VP, Stephen Mays, 2^nd VP, Carolyn Jordan, 3^rd VP, Quiana Johnson, Secy., Fr. Pat Gaza, Treasurer, and Kathy Kelly, Ass’t. Treasurer. Anyone interested in becoming a member or volunteering with programs can attend the next meeting on Thursday June 9^th, at 6:30 p.m. at Ivy Tech Gary Campus.

The Cast of Sheation 1-2:22 Returning to Indiana!

The multi-talented Ernie D. Shelby aka Lady Sax® returns home after the successful Chicago premier of her musical “dramedy” in which she served as Executive Producer, Composer, Director and Asst. Musical Director! The plot revolves around several “unsung” females of the Bible who attend a brunch to meet with Eve! The cast includes Nina Turner, Lynn Strong, Sharon Suchoza, Terah Paynes, Claudia Strong, Catherine Hill, Valerie Myricks, Dream Swan, Michelle Westbrook, Hakimah Qualls, Tina Smoot, Stacie Myers and LaToyia Gilbert. All cast members are from the Northwest Indiana/Chicago Region! June 25^th is the date and tickets are available at Beautiful Things in the Village on Grant Street in Gary, Indiana.  . Buy there and save $5 UNTIL JUNE 17^th. Tickets are also available from cast members, or by calling Ernie @ 219-887-7729 or email: ladysax@netzero.net for special delivery!

©Renae Brantley 2011

To submit your organization’s news, information, photos, or events to Giving Greater Chicago, please send via email to renae@thegrantconnection.net. Preferred file format for photos is .jpg, or .pdf.

Best wishes-

Renae

To see what's happening in and around the Chicago/Northwest Indiana philanthropic scene, follow my blog: http://givingchicago.blogspot.com/ "City of Big Shoulders and Bigger Hearts!"