Giving Season

Local Charities

• Seattle Foundation
• Hopelink
• United Way
• Volunteers of America
• Teen Feed
• Union Gospel Mission
• March of Dimes (Washington)
• No Kid Hungry
• Mary's Place
• Seattle Children's
• FareStart
• Jubilee Women’s Center
• First Place School
• Bread of Life Mission
• Nourish Pierce County
• Food Lifeline
• Emergency Feeding
• Homeless Shelter Directory
• Puget Sound Labor Agency
• Puget Sound Pet Food Bank
• Snohomish Food Bank

Research Charities

• Secretary of State (Washington)
• Charity Navigator
• Charity Watch
• Great Nonprofits
• GuideStar
• Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Advice
• Give.org

Proceed With Caution

Here are a few tips to ensure you’re dealing with reputable organizations. Proceed with utmost caution if an organization does any of the following:

1. Refuses to provide detailed information about its identity, mission, costs, and how the donation will be used.
2. Won’t provide proof that a contribution is tax deductible.
3. Uses a name that closely resembles that of a better-known, reputable organization.
4. Thanks you for a pledge you don’t remember making.
5. Uses high-pressure tactics like trying to get you to donate immediately, without giving you time to think about it and do your research.
6. Asks for donations in cash or asks you to wire money.
7. Offers to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect the donation immediately.
8. Guarantees sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution. By law, you never have to give a donation to be eligible to win a sweepstakes.

Source: Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Advice