Use caution if you want to celebrate July 4th by donating to charities that say they help U.S. troops, veterans, and their families

If you are thinking about making a donation during 4th of July holiday to help American troops or veterans, be sure to do research to make sure the charity you select is legitimate.

Unfortunately, there are many "charities" that will use your compassion for troops and veterans to coax you into supporting their inefficient, if not fraudulent, operations.

And just because a person who says he or she is a veteran is asking for donations at a table in the mall, it doesn’t mean that the charity getting your donation is a reputable one that is spending most of the money on veterans and troops.

To help you do your homework before you open your wallet, Charity Navigator offers a list of charities on its Support Our Troops webpage.

You can also check the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance to get reports on charities you are considering donating to.

Also see this list of secretaries of state and click on your state for information on which charities are registered in your state. Many states also do annual reports on how much charities spend on fundraising and how much money actually goes to help those in need.

Copyright 2015, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

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