Charity Lists: The Cost of Giving

ANCHOR LEAD IN:
IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN PEOPLE OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND WALLETS FOR THOSE IN NEED. AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF SOLICITATIONS. AND WHILE GIVING IS A GOOD THING, YOU NEED TO CHOOSE WISELY. IN TODAY'S HEADS UP, ___________TELLS US, HOW, IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOUR GOODWILL COULD COST YOU MORE THAN YOU BANKED ON.

TRACK ONE Length: 09
ADDRESS LABELS, NOTE PADS, TRINKETS…THE FLOOD OF FREEBIES ALONG WITH LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS FROM CHARITIES SEEMS CONSTANT. THEIR HOPE? YOU'LL MAKE A DONATION.

NAT SOUND Length: 04
"National Multiple Sclerosis, National Foundation for the Blind."

TRACK TWO Length: 11
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PLACES MARY PERRY GAVE MONEY TO. AFTER SHE DIED, HER FAMILY DISCOVERED SHE HAD MADE DOZENS OF DONATIONS. ON ONE DAY ALONE SHE WROTE 10 DIFFERENT CHECKS TO 10 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

SOT
KEY @ : 21 Amanda Frank, Granddaughter-in-law
"She just thought she was being charitable and helping…which she was, but she was also being taken for a ride a little bit."

TRACK THREE Length: 10
SANDRA MINIUTTI (MIN-OO-TEE) IS WITH CHARITY NAVIGATOR, A NON-PROFIT CHARITY EVALUATOR. SHE SAYS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE DONORS MAKE IS SENDING SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO MANY DIFFERENT CHARITIES.

SOT
KEY @ : 45 Sandra Miniutti, VP/Charity Navigator
"What happens is that the charities actually sell your name and the next thing you know your mailbox is just inundated with requests for funding."

TRACK FOUR Length: 10
THOSE REQUESTS OFTEN TUG AT THE HEART STRINGS… MINUITTI SAYS JUST BECAUSE A CHARITY SENDS YOU A REQUEST OR EVEN A FREE GIFT …DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM A DONATION.

SOT
KEY @ : 1:02 Sandra Miniutti, VP/Charity Navigator
"Make sure you give to a charity because you believe in their mission, they're well run. Give based on merit, not just because they ask."

TRACK FIVE Length: 03
AMANDA SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE LEARNED FROM MARY'S MISTAKES.

SOT
NO KEY
"Just be careful, you know, who you're sending money to. Make sure it's one that you're really tied to …that you have some sort of affiliation with."

ANCHOR TAG:
THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT PREVENTS A CHARITY FROM SELLING OR TRADING YOUR NAME. AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE YOUR INFORMATION FROM THEIR MAILING LISTS. HOWEVER, YOU CAN REGISTER WITH THE DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION TO OPT-OUT OF JUNK MAIL. BUT NOT ALL CHARITIES SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERVICE. IF YOU DO DONATE TO A CHARITY, ENCLOSE A NOTE REQUESTING THAT THE ORGANIZATION NOT RENT, SELL OR EXCHANGE YOUR NAME WITH ANYONE ELSE.

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Thank you.

Sandra Miniutti
VP
Charity Navigator
Charitynavigator.org
201-818-1288
sminuitti@charitynavigator.org\

Sandra Miniutti is vice president at Charity Navigator, a nonprofit
group in Mahwah, N.J., that examines charities nationwide.