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Home  Tips and Info Articles The Charity Name Game
The Charity Name Game
Sound alike groups may use confusion to prosper
If you are solicited by an organization, listen carefully and pay close attention to the group's name. In the past, some groups have adopted names which closely resemble that of well-known, well-respected organizations. These sound-a-like charities may be valid, legitimate organizations, or they might be relying on the likeness of their name to take your money. Look past the group's familiar sounding name before you make a donation to ensure your dollars are truly assisting those in need. Supporting charities is vital to the community and welfare of many depending on their services. The Better Business Bureau offers these tips to help you make certain your gifts are going to the organization to which you intend to contribute.
Similar causes, separate organizations
Most charitable concerns will have more than one, and sometimes hundreds of organizations addressing the same issue. It is likely that most of these organizations are completely independent in their operations, activities, and finances. For example, there may be more than one hundred charities with the word "cancer" in the name. Consider that one group may be focused on cancer research, while another offers counseling to family members of cancer patients, and yet another may focus on creating awareness campaigns to decrease the risks of the disease. Each is vital in its own right and distinctively different in its benefit to the community. Conversely, some unscrupulous promoters are hoping that just a word like cancer will be enough to tug at your heart and lend unfounded credibility to their mission of taking your money. Potential donors should never assume that charities are affiliated just because the same disease or charity issue appears as part of the organization's name. Remember, there is no copyright on a cause.
One word makes the difference
Some organizations' names may differ by only one word compounding confusion for potential donors. The legality of this differs from case to case. Legal blows between similar sounding organizations have left even the courts unclear as to when name similarity crosses the line of acceptability. However, a charity can be prevented from passing itself off as another charity. The best method of protecting yourself is to research and know ahead of time the exact name of the organization to which you wish to donate. Do not donate on impulse as this gives you no opportunity to determine if the group is legitimate.
Addresses don't always help
Organizations often use mailing addresses that are different from their physical address such as Post Office Boxes (P. O. Box) or Postal Mail Boxes (PMB). The use of an alternative address is considered a routine part of fundraising. For legitimate charities, it is usually done to ensure secure and prompt deposits of donations using a central mailing address. Conversely, some less than scrupulous groups may not offer a physical address, only a mail box. It is advisable to obtain a verifiable physical location before making a contribution. Groups unwilling to offer such information may not have roots in the community or could even be looking for hard-to-trace ways of taking your dollars. In other cases, a group may deliberately choose a mailing address that appears to be near a better known charity with a similar mission.
One charity, different names
Many charities have more than one program they support and for which they solicit. As a result, they may assign differing or special names to each. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, donors may be confused if the parent organization is not prominently identified in the appeal. If you receive a solicitation for a specific program, question which charity is carrying out the individual project.
Local names, not always local activities
Some charities may falsely imply that they have a local affiliate, chapter or activity in the community. In reality, the only local connection they may have is their name. This misunderstanding is compounded when an appeal uses phrases that sound similar to fundraising activities of locally active charities. Don't assume that just because the organization's name bears words associated with local areas that your donated dollars will stay in the community or that those soliciting are located locally. Remember, honest charities will encourage donor interest in verifying their activities, while questionable ones are counting on the fact that some contributors won't bother to ask.
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