Now that the weather is warming and spring is near there may be door-to-door solicitors knocking on your door and calling your home asking for donations. Montgomery County Police would like to remind the community that there are ways to verify whether an organization is legitimate and if the charity uses majority of the money donated to actually assist the cause they purport to help.

According to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection, all charitable organizations that either solicit contributions from Maryland residents or are located in Maryland are required to be registered with the Office of the Secretary of State if they collect more than $25,000 in direct public support or engage the services of a professional solicitor to raise funds for the organization.

The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection offers the following tips regarding charities:
- Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fundraiser will give out information about the charity’s mission, how your donation will be used and proof that the contribution is tax deductible.
- Call the Maryland Secretary of State at 1-800-825-4510 or go online at www.sos.state.md.us/charity/charityhome.htm to check out a specific charity and to have your name removed from a solicitation list.
- Watch out for similar sounding names. Some phony charities use names that closely resemble those of respected and legitimate organizations.
- Know the difference between “tax exempt” and “tax deductible.” Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t have to pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return. Even if an organization is tax exempt, your contribution may not be tax deductible.
- Refuse high pressure appeals. Legitimate fundraisers won’t push you to give on the spot.
- Avoid cash gifts. Cash can be lost or stolen. For security and tax record purposes, it’s best to pay by check and make it out to the charity (using their full name, not initials) not to the fundraiser. Alternatively, you can mail your check directly to the charity.
- You can also check out a charity with these organizations: Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203, 703-276-0100 or www.give.org; the American Institute of Philanthropy, 3450 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 2802 E, Chicago, IL 60657, 773-529-2300 or www.charitywatch.org; or GuideStar, 4801 Courthouse Street, Suite 220, Williamsburg, VA 23118, 757-229-4631 or www.GuideStar.org.
- For more information contact the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636 or http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ocp/index.asp.

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