To check whether a charity is legitimate, look it up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search using either its Employer Identification Number or legal name, then confirm it’s registered to solicit donations in your state and cross-check its record with an independent rating service. That sequence takes about ten minutes and tells you whether the group is real, whether your gift is tax-deductible, and whether it manages money responsibly.
Get the EIN and Legal Name First
Every tax-exempt organization has an Employer Identification Number, a nine-digit code the IRS assigns for tax reporting. This is the most reliable way to pull up the right entity, especially when several charities share similar names. You can usually find the EIN in the footer of the charity’s website, on donation receipts, or in the “About” section. If it’s not posted, ask. A legitimate charity will hand it over without hesitation.
Grab the official legal name at the same time, because it may not match the brand name on ads or social media. A group might market itself as “Feed the Kids” but be incorporated as “National Child Nutrition Alliance, Inc.” IRS and state databases use the formal registered title, so searching only the marketing name can return no results and cause unnecessary alarm. Check letterhead, donation confirmation emails, or annual reports for the full legal name, and cross-reference it against the EIN to make sure you’re looking at the right entity.
Run the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search is free, requires no account, and covers virtually every recognized tax-exempt organization in the country.1Internal Revenue Service. Tax Exempt Organization Search Enter the EIN or name, and the tool checks several databases at once.
The first thing to look for is whether the organization appears in the Publication 78 data. A listing there confirms the charity is currently eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.1Internal Revenue Service. Tax Exempt Organization Search If you plan to claim a deduction, this is the check that matters most. An organization can call itself a nonprofit all day, but without this listing, your donation probably won’t reduce your tax bill.
Check the Automatic Revocation List
The same tool flags organizations whose tax-exempt status was automatically revoked. This happens when a charity fails to file its required annual return for three consecutive years. The revocation takes effect on the due date of that third missed return.2Internal Revenue Service. Automatic Revocation of Exemption If a group shows up on this list, contributions generally aren’t tax-deductible, even if the organization is still operating and doing good work. It would need to reapply and receive a new determination letter before deductible donations resume.
Read the Form 990 Summary
Search results also link to the organization’s recent Form 990 filings. Form 990 is the annual information return that tax-exempt organizations use to report revenue, expenses, executive compensation, and program spending.3Internal Revenue Service. Form 990 Resources and Tools Even the first-page summary gives you a quick snapshot of financial health. Look at total revenue against total expenses, and compare program spending with fundraising and administrative costs. A charity that spends 85 cents of every dollar on programs looks very different from one that spends 40 cents.
Smaller organizations with gross receipts of $50,000 or less can file a simplified version called Form 990-N, the e-Postcard, which confirms basic information like the organization’s address and that it’s still operating.4Internal Revenue Service. Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations – Form 990-N (e-Postcard) You won’t get the detailed financial picture a full 990 provides, but the filing at least shows the charity is meeting its federal reporting obligations.
When a Missing IRS Result Isn’t a Problem
Before you conclude a charity is fraudulent because it doesn’t show up in the IRS search, know that churches, synagogues, mosques, and similar religious organizations are automatically considered tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) without applying for formal recognition. They’re also not required to file Form 990.5Internal Revenue Service. Churches, Integrated Auxiliaries and Conventions or Associations of Churches Many religious organizations simply won’t appear in the database, and donations to them remain fully tax-deductible.
Very new organizations may also be absent if their application for recognition is still being processed, and some small charities that have always been under the filing threshold have limited visibility. In these cases, ask the organization for a copy of its IRS determination letter, the document confirming tax-exempt status.
Confirm State Registration
Federal tax-exempt status is only half the picture. Most states require charities to register with a state agency before they can legally solicit donations within that state’s borders. The responsible office varies: some states assign this to the Attorney General, others to the Secretary of State. Search the relevant state database and look for a status of “active” or “in good standing,” which means the organization has filed its required annual reports and renewals.
These state registries often contain disclosure documents showing how much of each dollar raised goes to programs versus fundraising costs, which can be more granular than what you’ll find on the federal Form 990. If a charity isn’t registered in a state where it’s actively soliciting, that’s a meaningful red flag. States can issue cease-and-desist orders and impose fines on organizations that solicit without proper registration.
One detail worth knowing: when a solicitation call comes from a paid fundraiser rather than a charity employee, many states require that caller to disclose they’re a professional solicitor working for compensation. If the caller won’t identify who they work for or how much of your donation reaches the charity, treat that as a warning sign. The National Association of State Charity Officials maintains a directory of state regulators at nasconet.org, which can point you to the right registry for your state.
Cross-Check a Third-Party Rating Site
Legal compliance tells you an organization is real. Third-party evaluators tell you whether it uses money well.
Charity Navigator uses an Encompass Rating System covering accountability and finance, impact and results, leadership and adaptability, and culture and community.6Charity Navigator. Our Methodology Its star ratings give a fast read on money management and governance practices like an independent board and a conflict-of-interest policy.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluates charities against 20 standards covering governance, fundraising, truthfulness in advertising, and spending. Charities meeting all 20 receive an “Accredited Charity” seal.7Give.org. BBB Standards for Charity Accountability The standards check specifics like whether the board actually oversees operations and whether marketing materials are accurate.
Candid, formerly GuideStar, awards transparency seals at Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels based on how much information the organization voluntarily shares. Platinum requires detailed goals, strategies, and measurable results alongside financial data.8Candid. 2025 Seals of Transparency Guide
No single platform tells the whole story. A charity might score well on financial efficiency but have governance problems, or it might work in a field where overhead ratios are naturally higher, like international disaster relief. Use these tools as one input alongside the IRS and state checks, not as pass-fail tests.
Signals of a Charity Scam
Fraudulent solicitors rely on urgency, emotion, and confusion. The most frequent trick is using a name that sounds almost identical to a well-known charity. “American Cancer Research Fund” could easily be mistaken for the American Cancer Society. Scammers also spoof local area codes on caller ID, and some will thank you for a donation you never made, hoping you’ll go along with a follow-up “pledge.”9Federal Trade Commission. Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams
Payment method is one of the clearest red flags. If someone asks you to donate by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app, that’s not how legitimate charities operate. Those methods are essentially untraceable, which is why scammers prefer them. Credit cards and checks are safer because they create records and offer dispute options.9Federal Trade Commission. Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams
Other warnings: vague descriptions of how your money will be used, claims that your donation is tax-deductible without proof of 501(c)(3) status, pressure to give immediately, and guarantees of sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution. That last one isn’t just a scam. It’s illegal.
Crowdfunding campaigns deserve extra caution. Money sent through crowdfunding platforms often goes directly to the organizer, who may have no verified connection to the cause described. If you want to support something you saw on a crowdfunding page, consider donating through the established charity working on that issue instead.
Where to Report a Suspected Scam
Report fraudulent solicitations to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state charity regulator through nasconet.org.9Federal Trade Commission. Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams For scams tied to a specific disaster, you can also file with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.10Federal Bureau of Investigation. Charity and Disaster Fraud Include whatever details you have: the name used by the solicitor, phone numbers, and what they said.
Documenting the Gift for Your Deduction
Verifying a charity is only half the equation. If you plan to deduct your donation, you need proper documentation. The IRS won’t accept “I remember giving” as proof.
Not every nonprofit can receive tax-deductible contributions. The deduction applies to organizations described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes 501(c)(3) charities, religious organizations, government entities accepting gifts for public purposes, and certain veterans’ organizations and fraternal societies when the gift is used for charitable purposes.11Internal Revenue Service. Charitable Contribution Deductions Donations to social welfare organizations, trade associations, or political groups generally aren’t deductible, even if those groups are tax-exempt.
For any single contribution of $250 or more, you need a written acknowledgment from the charity. That document must include the organization’s name, the amount of your cash contribution or a description of a non-cash gift, and a statement about whether the charity provided any goods or services in return. If it did, the acknowledgment must include a good-faith estimate of their value.12Internal Revenue Service. Charitable Contributions – Written Acknowledgments Without this, the IRS can disallow the entire deduction, no matter how legitimate the charity is.
For non-cash donations valued at more than $5,000, you’ll also need a qualified written appraisal from an independent appraiser and must file Form 8283 with your tax return.13Internal Revenue Service. Publication 526 (2025) – Charitable Contributions This applies to items like artwork, real estate, vehicles, and jewelry. The appraisal requirement doesn’t apply to publicly traded securities or to vehicles where the deduction is limited to the sale proceeds.
For 2025 returns, cash donations to most public charities are deductible up to 60% of your adjusted gross income, while non-cash contributions to those same organizations are capped at 50% of AGI. Donations to certain private foundations and veterans’ organizations have lower limits of 30% or 20% of AGI. Amounts exceeding these limits can be carried forward for up to five years.13Internal Revenue Service. Publication 526 (2025) – Charitable Contributions
Starting with the 2026 tax year, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduces several changes. Taxpayers who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $1,000 in cash charitable contributions ($2,000 for joint filers) without itemizing. For those who do itemize, a new floor means you can only deduct charitable contributions that exceed 0.5% of adjusted gross income. And taxpayers in the top tax bracket will see their charitable deduction produce a slightly lower benefit, capped at 35% rather than 37%. Anyone making large charitable gifts in 2026 should review the updated rules with a tax professional.