Search for BBB Charities that have Accreditation.
Go beyond the basics and learn about their mission, programs and finances.
Gain confidence and promote trustworthy charity practices.
Learn how to improve your charitable giving.
Giving tips
1. Get the charity’s exact name. With so many charities in existence, mistaken identity is a common problem. Thousands of charities have “cancer” in their name, for example, but no connection with one another.
2. Resist pressure to give on the spot, whether from a telemarketer or door-to-door solicitor.
3. Be wary of heart-wrenching appeals. What matters is what the charity is doing to help.
4. Press for specifics. If the charity says it’s helping the homeless, for example, ask how and where it’s working.
5. Check websites for basics. A charity’s mission, program, and finances should be available on its site. If not, check for a report at BBB.org
6. Check with state charity officials. In many states, charities are required to register, usually with the office of the attorney general, before soliciting.
7. Don’t assume that every soliciting organization is tax-exempt as a charity. You can readily check an organization’s tax status at: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
Online resources for donors
BBB.org
On the BBB.org homepage, search for a specific organization, or search for a category (e.g. animal rescue, food bank, etc.). Include the area or city in the “Near” search box for more relevant results. On the search results page, there are filters available to further refine your results by things like category, business vs charity, etc.
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool
If you have a charity’s EIN, you can search it in this tool to confirm their 501(c)(3) status and view their recent Form 990s on file with the IRS. If you do not have a charity’s EIN, you can reach out to them and ask for it (the EIN is public information).
Research Charities - Charitable Ohio (Ohio Attorney General’s Office)
This tool allows users to search for a charity to see if it is registered with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office (a requirement for any organization that solicits donations in Ohio).
Charitable giving - Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Kentucky
This website contains information about charitable organizations, private foundations, and professional fundraisers operating in Kentucky.
NOTE: The state of Indiana does not require charities to register with the Attorney General’s office.
For questions or more information, please contact:
Cincinnati BBB
(513) 421-3015
info@cincinnati.bbb.org