Every donor has the same quiet question at the moment of giving: is this real? It is the right question. Charitable giving works because of trust, and trust should never require taking anyone's word for anything. Here are five checks anyone can run in about ten minutes, on any fundraising campaign, including ours. We wrote this guide because we pass these checks, and because a donor who knows how to verify is exactly the donor the nonprofit world needs more of.
1. Ask which nonprofit benefits, then look it up
A legitimate campaign names its beneficiary without hesitation. Take that name and look it up on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search or on Candid, formerly known as GuideStar. You are confirming two things: the nonprofit exists as a registered 501(c)(3), and it is in good standing. Both databases are free and public.
2. Confirm the campaign is authorized
Nonprofits know who raises money on their behalf. Visit the nonprofit's own website or call its office and ask whether the campaign in front of you is authorized. The partners we represent, including Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Stand for the Silent, will confirm the relationship, because the relationship is real and contracted.
3. Check the state charity regulator
Professional fundraising is a regulated activity. Most states require professional fundraisers to register, file contracts, and report results with the state attorney general or secretary of state. Your state's charity regulator maintains a public database of registered fundraisers. A professional firm that is nowhere in that system is a red flag; one that is registered has already put its paperwork where regulators can audit it.
4. Look at how the ask is made
Legitimate campaigns ask clearly and take no for an answer. Pressure, urgency that cannot wait a day, requests for gift cards or wire transfers, or reluctance to provide anything in writing are the classic marks of a scam, and they have nothing in common with how professional campaigns operate. A real campaign will happily let you donate later, directly through the nonprofit, after you have checked everything.
5. Read about the company itself
Search the fundraising company's name and read what you find, including the critical commentary. Then weigh it against what is verifiable: certifications you can look up, partner recognition you can confirm with the partner, and regulatory standing you can check with the state. We keep a transparency page on this site for exactly this purpose, because we would rather answer hard questions in public than hope nobody asks them.
Universal Events Inc. supports community outreach and fundraising campaigns for nonprofit partners nationwide. Every claim we make is checkable through the sources above, and we like it that way. Questions? Reach us at info@universalevents-inc.com.
Universal Events, Inc.
Nonprofit consulting, fundraising counsel, and outreach.
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