How do I choose a charity to make a donation to?

Would you like to lend your financial support to a cause close to your heart? Whether it's a humanitarian association, a heritage foundation or an animal protection organization, donating money is an essential philanthropic gesture for the survival of associations. So how do you choose which association to make your next donation to? Is it better to choose a local association or a world-renowned foundation? What will your money be used for? What should you look out for when choosing a charity? Birdee takes you through it all!

WHY DO ASSOCIATIONS NEED DONORS?

Donations or gifts, also known as bequests, are often the main source of funding for charities. Indeed, these charitable organizations do not always receive sufficient financial support from governments. Donations provide the funds needed to finance their projects and programs.

Giving money to an association goes beyond the financial aspect. It also enables you to play an active part in a cause close to your heart. By offering your support, you contribute directly to achieving the association's objectives.

Did you know? In France, making a donation to a charity allows you to benefit from a reduction in income tax, provided you choose an association that meets the conditions required by the tax authorities.

If it's not automatic, remember to ask the association for a receipt for your donation. Without a receipt, you won't be able to declare your donation or benefit from the income tax reduction. To find out more, visit service-public.fr.

WHICH CHARITY TO CHOOSE FOR A DONATION?

There are many charities to choose from, and it's not always easy to find the right cause to support. Choose a charity that matches your personal values or passions, such as :

- A humanitarian association that helps people in need,
- a charity focused on defending human rights,
- a charity aiming to protect animals or the environment,
- an association or foundation recognized as being in the public interest,
- a charitable association,
- or a cultural association promoting culture, art and heritage.

The first step is to identify the causes that matter most to you. Once you've chosen your cause, you can choose to donate to a small local association, or to a large national or international organization. Each has its own advantages and particularities, and the choice will depend on whether you want to contribute on a smaller scale within your own town or support larger organizations around the world. The key is to choose an association that resonates with your personal convictions and aspirations, and in which you have confidence.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION BEFORE MAKING A DONATION

1. Before making your donation to an association, find out all you can about it.
   
   - Check that the association is registered with the Préfecture as a charitable organization under the French law of 1901.
   - This will give you an idea of the association's commitment and impact. You should also be able to consult the association's annual accounts, which will enable you to assess its financial management and transparency.
   - Take the time to understand what the association does on a day-to-day basis, its purpose and activities.
   - Finally, you need to know what your donation will be used for. A serious charity must be able to explain how your bequest will contribute to its projects (distributing meals, funding medical care or research, financing educational programs around the world, providing support following humanitarian events, etc.).

HOW TO MAKE A DONATION TO AN ASSOCIATION

Depending on the association, the steps involved in making a bequest may differ. Here are the options for making a donation to an association:

- Make a donation by online transfer. A bank transfer is a convenient and secure way of transferring money in the event of a donation. You simply determine the amount you wish to donate and follow the instructions provided on the association's website.
- Make a donation by cheque. You write a cheque payable to the association, possibly indicating the specific project you wish to support, then send it to the address indicated on the association's website.
- Make a donation by SMS. In certain cases, for special actions or fund-raising events, it is possible to make a donation directly by SMS.
- Make a recurring bequest. If you wish to support an association on a regular basis, you can opt for a recurring donation by setting up a monthly direct debit transfer to the charity of your choice.

🚨 Beware of scams. A charity will never ask you to give :

- your money in cash or by cheque in the street,
- your bank details by e-mail or telephone to make your donation.

In the case of an official call for donations, this information will be noted on the association's website. Finally, before validating a donation by bank transfer, make sure that the site bears the words "participative financing platform regulated by the French authorities", as well as the legal notices.