The Secretary of State’s office is warning people to research a charity before donating to groups that set up shop outside storefronts and ask for cash donations.
In recent months, the Secretary of State’s charities program has received reports of bogus charitable causes soliciting for donations outside of shops, and reports of people disguised as volunteers who are actually getting a cut of the cash collected. Most storefront solicitors are honest in raising money, but many are not, the Secretary of State’s office warned.
Officials encourage people to resist the urge to donate to a group on the spot. Instead, take down the group’s information, research the organization, and donate at a later time if the organization passes muster. A legitimate charity will welcome questions and independent research. Writing a check is better than giving a cash donation, because checks provide a record of the contribution.
For more information, contact Tabatha Blacksmith at 360-725-0381 or tabatha.blacksmith@sos.wa.gov.
