| 1. Make a plan and budget for your charitable | | | | tax receipts for your donation. |
| giving. Then you will stay on track and not be | | | | 7. Keep track of an organization's scheduled |
| lured or distracted by solicitations from other | | | | fundraisers as noted in the local newspapers, |
| needy organizations. | | | | official web site, and flyers posted at local |
| 2. Choose the animal shelters or rescue | | | | businesses. If you have any questions about |
| organizations you want to help. Find the ones that | | | | participating in or attending a fundraiser, call the |
| appeal to your heart and soul, not just your | | | | organization. |
| wallet. | | | | 8. Make sure that what you give makes a |
| 3. Make checks payable to the specific nonprofit, | | | | difference. Look for information about animals |
| and take it to the organization's physical address | | | | that have been helped, costs to support an animal |
| or mail it to the official mailing address. Never | | | | during its stay at a shelter, and the amount of |
| make a check payable to an individual who says | | | | money used for administrative support. |
| he/she represents the organization. | | | | 9. Partner with the organization to further its - |
| 4. Ask for a receipt for any cash donations. | | | | and your - goals for making the world a better |
| 5. If your donation of money or goods will be | | | | place for animals. Share your efforts and the |
| collected at your residence or place of business, | | | | results publicly to inspire others to join you in your |
| first call the organization to get the name of the | | | | support of a worthy cause and to save lives. |
| authorized member. When the person comes to | | | | 10. Include your kids in your giving plan. At the |
| pick up the donation, ask him/her to present | | | | right age, they can volunteer to help care for the |
| some form of identification, such as a driver's | | | | animals. When younger, perhaps they can |
| license. | | | | contribute part of their allowance. Kids naturally |
| 6. Members soliciting on behalf of a nonprofit | | | | like to help; plus, they'll be learning a wonderful life |
| should be able to provide you with information | | | | lesson in caring for living things that need help. |
| about the organization and its events, as well as | | | | |