Columbia, South Carolina (WCSC) – Every year, Americans collectively donate hundreds of billions of dollars to charity, many of them during the holiday season. National Philanthropy Trust.
Now that the giving season is about to begin, Secretary of State Mark Hammond advises South Carolinians to “give heartily, but give smartly.”
Hammond said people should research their wallets and checkbooks before opening them. Because some organizations employ professional fundraiser, they may use up much of the money received in donations, leaving only a small portion for actual work or services.
“We want to educate charitable donors. The Better Business Bureau says they should give at least 65{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} for charitable causes,” said Hammond.
People can search for organizations by Public Secretary of State Database To find out the costs allocated for program services in the most recent year’s application. You can also call the Public Charity Department at 1-888-CHARITI or email us to learn more about the organization before donating.
“If you feel pressured or harassed, feel like your attorney is not answering your questions, or if your attorney is a professional fundraiser, contact the Secretary of State’s office. Please, I can,” said Hammond.
The Office of the Secretary of State takes note of Angels, a South Carolina charity that devotes at least 80{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} of its donations to charitable programs and services each year. These organizations must also meet other criteria to become angels, such as making good use of volunteer services and having a significant presence in South Carolina.
Among this year’s ten angels was Sharing God’s Love, Irmo’s community pantry.
“We provide food, clothing and utility assistance and have done so for 38 years,” said Executive Director Shari Selke.
According to the Office of the Secretary of State, Sharing God’s Love puts donations to good use, with more than 92{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} of its funds going to charitable programs and services last year.
“One of the key things in our mission is to take good care of everything we have, so we make sure that what we receive is given to the community. “It’s a big deal,” said Selke. “Using and sharing our donations wisely is always a top priority.”
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