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The holidays can be a particularly stressful time for some military families, when having only one paycheck and only one parent at home becomes increasingly noticeable.

One of the (seemingly) easiest ways to help during the holidays is by donating money or needed items directly to a charity. These organizations do most of the legwork for you, facilitating feel-good transactions that don’t add too much to your already-heaping holiday plate.

How do you choose your military charity and avoid charity scams?

In Imperial Beach, Calif., the local commissary takes donations each year to be able to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to military families in the area.

Choosing a military charity

Whether you want to show support for troops still overseas or raise funds for wounded warriors coming home, picking a specific cause that’s important to you and your family will make it easier to identify a respected charity and see results as you continue to give.

There are a lot of needs that need to be addressed in the military community. Talk to your local VA or other area veterans groups. They will likely be able to point you in the direction of the greatest need, and get you in contact with reputable charitable organizations. Or check out a website like charitywatch.org.

Avoiding a scam

There are a lot of great military charities to be found this holiday season. But there are a number of shady ones, too. To make sure your donations are going to where you intend them to, vet organizations using these six tips.

• Ask questions. Get a charity’s contact information and a description of its programs in writing before pledging any money. Find out about the organization’s 501(c)3 status and executive compensation. Check the charity’s commitment to donor rights (to make sure they won’t sell your personal information). Verify how much of your donation will be going directly to those in need.
• Check out the organization with the office that regulates charities in your state. For a list of state offices, visit the National Association of State Charity Officials. The Internal Revenue Service will also have information on file about legitimate charities.
• Know the signs of a scam. Reject high-pressure pitches or requests for cash only. Guarantees of a prize in exchange for your contribution are usually too good to be true. Beware of newly-formed charities; it takes a while to build the infrastructure needed to actually get donations to those in need.
• Initiate. Contact charities directly, instead of giving money to the person who contacts you. Some charities might send out representatives to get donations, but these could also be scam artists misrepresenting themselves.
• Report abuses to the Better Business Bureau, your state’s Attorney General office and the National Fraud Information Center.
• Go big or go home. The two best ways to practice oversight of your giving are to either choose a big charity you’re already familiar with, or to put your money to work in your community, where you can see results.

Unfortunately, scams involving veterans and other military personnel aren’t at all uncommon. Here are some other tips for avoiding scams targeting these individuals.

Other ways to help

There are many ways to support these and other military families at Christmas and year-round.You can volunteer with veterans, send a care package to deployed troops or even extend a simple act of kindness to the military families left behind.

Eager to give more in the new year? Check out these tips for donating without spreading yourself too thin.

Photo courtesy Official U.S. Navy Imagery.

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