Charities
Scam artists posing as charities can cause trouble for generous Kansans hoping to help their neighbors. Attorney General Steve Six has committed himself to protecting Kansas consumers and providing educational resources to prevent scams and consumer victimization.
The Attorney General's Office enforces the Kansas Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Act, K.S.A. 17-1759 et seq. We also oversee any modifications made to charitable trusts to ensure that the intent of the grantor is maintained.
Our office's duties include, but are not limited to:
- Investigating charities that mislead consumer about where or what their donations are being used for.
- Investigating scams and fake charities.
- Investigating improper solicitations of donations.
Tips for Donors:
Real charities will always be happy to take your money a couple days or even a couple weeks after they first make contact with you, so take time to do your research. High pressure appeals that claim a need is "urgent" are often times a warning sign of a scam.
Take time to ask the following questions before you donate:
- What is the charity's exact name? Scam artists often use names that sound familiar to reputable charitable organizations in order to solicit donations.
- Is the charity registered with the Secretary of State's Office? If so, what is their registration number?
- Does the charity operate nationally? If so, what is the address of its national offices?
- Does it operate locally or have a local center? If so, what is the address of its local office?
- How much of my donation will go to charitable activities?
- How much of my donation will go to administrative expenses?
- Is the call being made by a professional solicitor? If so, what percent of the donation will they receive and are they registered with the Secretary of States Office? What is their registration number?
- What programs will my donation support? Will my donation benefit programs that are available locally?
- Is my donation tax deductible, i.e. can I deduct it from my own federal income tax return?
- Ask to be sent financial statements from the organization to determine who will benefit from your donation.
- If you are purchasing a product that supports a charitable organization, always ask what percentage of the amount you spend will actually support the charity. If it is a product you do not want or need, you might be able to better help the charity by donating directly.
Do additional research before you donate:
- Search the charity online through a search engine. Check for complaints filed by other consumers.
- Go to the charity's website and read about the programs it supports.
- Contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints about the charity or search for the charity online at http://bbb.org/charity.
- Go to http://www.kscharitycheck.org/ to see if the charity is registered with the Kansas Secretary of State's Office.
- Find a link to their IRS 990 form which reports their expenses and see if they are associated with any professional fundraisers.
When you are ready to donate, send your donation in the form of a check so you have a receipt. Do NOT give out credit card or bank information to an organization.
Am I being scammed?
There are some pretty common signs of a charity scam. If you experience any of the following, be careful.
- The solicitor pressures you into giving money right away.
- The solicitor refuses to provide you basic information such as the charity's name and address.
- Your donation is associated with a contest, such as a sweepstakes or a raffle, that sounds "too good to be true."
- The solicitor wants you to pay in cash or wants credit card information but will not accept a check.
- The solicitor will not let you mail in a check directly, but instead sends someone to pick it up from you.
- If you believe you are the victim of a scam, file a complaint with our office.
Other Helpful Links:
Attorney General's Charitable Giving Guide
Tips for serving on the board of a chairtable organization or trust
Kansas Charity Check: Information for donors regarding a charity's registration status with the Kansas Secretary of State, address, and fundraising expenses.
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance: Information for donors including the ability to search for a charity through the Better Business Bureau's database.
Guide Star: A service that allows individuals to view a non-profit's IRS form 990 and learn about a charitable organization's mission and programs.
Federal Trade Commission: Educational materials and web links for consumers regarding smart giving and ways to investigate a charity's nature and activities.
IRS Website and Charities Guidelines
IRS Compliance Guide brochure for 501(c)(3) public charities
BoardSource Inc: A wide variety of information to help board members in carrying out their duties to the best of their capacity, including the online video series Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards and a "Knowledge Center" of information for board members.