Attorney General urges Kansans to investigate before donating
March 19, 2007
Dear Attorney General,
Lately it seems that I’ve been flooded with calls and mailings from charities asking for my support. Some of them even send me gifts I didn’t order like address labels or greeting cards. How can I be sure these charities are legitimate? If I keep the gift a charity sends, am I expected to reimburse them in some way?
Dear Kansas Consumer,
Charities provide valuable services to our communities, adding to the quality of life and building networks of support for people across Kansas and across the world.
Some organizations include a free gift along with their appeal for support in the hope that it will make you more likely to donate. These types of gifts are often mass produced at a very low cost to the organization and you are under no obligation to “repay” the charity, or return merchandise you did not order.
I encourage all Kansans to do a little research before contributing to any charity they are not familiar with. Unfortunately, not every person or organization posing as a charity actually spends the money to help people in need.
Kansas Charity Check provides information on charitable organizations registered in Kansas. Consumers can visit www.KsCharityCheck.org or call (785) 296-4564 to find the amount of money raised by a charity, as well as the percentage of money spent on administrative expenses not related to the cause.
For charities not registered in Kansas, consumers should ask for written information on the charity’s programs and finances. Any honest, legitimate charity will be willing to answer questions about the types of programs they conduct, how much of their donations are used to support these programs and how much they spend on administrative expenses.
Kansans have always been generous in supporting people less fortunate, but it is important to take a few precautions and donate wisely to any group or organization. Consumers should never feel pressured into making a contribution or pledge, and should decide in advance which charity conducts the most effective program they want to fund.
As your Attorney General, I encourage all Kansas consumers to continue supporting the charities they care about, after finding out the details you need to make an informed decision. Please contact my Consumer Protection Division at 785-296-3751 or 1-800-432-2310 with your questions or concerns.