Charities and Contributions
Precautionary Tips:
Protect your Contribution
What You Should Know about a Charity
before You Make a Donation
- Request identification from the solicitor first. You should always ask fundraisers to identify themselves and name the charity for which they are soliciting.
- Watch out for look-alike, sound-alike names; scammers choose names to deliberately confuse you and rely on your confusion to make their money.
- Don't send cash, pay cash or give a credit card number to anyone over the phone. Even if this is a legitimate charity, pay by check. Always make the check payable to the charity, never the individual soliciting or collecting the check.
- Beware of charities that offer to send someone to pick up your donation.
- A charity that offers "free" goods as an enticement for your donation pays for these items from contributions. This means that less of your donation goes to the charity.
- Unordered merchandise - You are under no obligation to pay for or return any unsolicited merchandise such as greeting cards, mailing labels, tickets or any item that you never ordered that arrives in connection with a charity solicitation. However, you should check with other members of your household to see if someone agreed to purchase the item.
- Be alert for invoices claiming you've made a pledge when you have not done so.
Charities contact people through the mail, over the telephone or at your door and ask for contributions. Legitimate charities need your help but, unfortunately, scammers may try to take advantage of your generosity, benefiting themselves, not a charity and making you a victim. Before giving to a charity, make sure it deserves your contribution.
Do you really know the organization you are contributing to and how they are using your money?
- Before making a donation, request printed information about the charity's programs and finances. How many of your dollars will go to helping people and providing services? Your charity should be able to provide you with an annual report that describes how donations are spent.
- How much do they spend on paid fundraisers and administrative expenses? Paid fundraisers are professional fundraisers who generally keep a percentage of the money they collect on behalf of the charity. Sometimes this can be a high percentage. This means more of your dollars goes to paying their costs, not helping people or providing services.
Consumers that would like more information about the operations and finances of charities they wish to donate to can visit the web site GuideStar, produced by Philanthropic Research, Inc., a public charity founded in 1994. According to GuideStar's web page, their mission is to promote philanthropy by helping donors, institutional funders, and charities become more informed, effective, and efficient.
Telephone Solicitations:
What YOU should ask telephone solicitors before you make a donation.
- Are you a paid professional fundraiser or a volunteer?
- If you are a paid fundraiser, what percentage do you make from my donation?
- How much of each dollar donated does the charity receive?
- If the fundraiser is selling tickets to a benefit show, with free attendance for underprivileged children, ask:
- How many children will attend?
- How are they selected?
- How are they transported?
- Is the accompanying adult also attending for free?
How to say NO to a telephone solicitor.
- "I do not accept telephone solicitations. Please do not call again."
- "Send me the information in the mail. If I'm interested I'll check it out with the Attorney General's Office and get back to you."
Door to Door Solicitations:
What YOU should ask door-to-door solicitors before you make a donation.
- Request identification first. DO NOT BE PRESSURED into donating at that moment. Be suspicious if the solicitor tries to talk you into it.
- Ask for a brochure provided by the organization describing the charity. A legitimate charity will provide written information about the charity's purpose, how it will use your donations and proof that your contribution is tax deductible. Read it after the solicitor leaves, at your own pace. Then, when you have satisfied yourself regarding the charity's purpose and legitimacy, you can mail your contribution directly to the charity.
- Hard sell tactics and sympathetic stories can be a sign of an unscrupulous individual or group.
- Before giving - make sure the charity has registered with the Alaska Attorney General's Office. Public information regarding the charity or paid solicitor for the charity may be in the registration information on file for the charity.
- Payment - If you decide to donate money, pay by check. NEVER MAKE THE CHECK OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS COLLECTING FOR THE CHARITY. DO NOT GIVE CASH OR YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER TO A STRANGER.
How to say NO! to a Solicitor:
- "No, thank you".
- "I'm not interested in contributing to this organization at this time".
- "Please leave me the brochure/information. I'll review it later when I have more time and will make a decision then".
Sweepstakes:
A national charity may mail up to ten million "sweepstakes" solicitations. Remember that sweepstakes usually provide small returns to the charity sponsoring it, and to you. Beware of promises for "guaranteed prizes". These prizes tend to be of poor quality and have small value. Always read the fine print to find out your true chance of winning any large prize. Your odds will be no greater than winning any other sweepstakes. Consider the worthiness of the charity sponsoring the sweepstakes in the same way you would any other charity.
Police/Firefighter Fundraisers:
You may be solicited to contribute to a policemen's' or firemen's association. This does not mean that your local police or firefighters belong to or are represented by this group. Before donating your money, call your local police or fire department to determine whether they have authorized this group to solicit on their behalf.
Watch out for companies that publish law enforcement journals and sell advertising space to businesses. Some companies may not have an affiliation with a law enforcement organization.
You should ask a fund raiser who calls on behalf of a law enforcement or public safety agency:
- Where is the fund raising organization based?
- Is the caller a paid fundraiser or a volunteer?
- What percent of the money raised will go to the local organization?
- What will the organization do with the money?
Be suspicious if the solicitor's answers do not sound truthful or if the solicitor is hesitant about providing this information
National Charities Information Bureau:
The NCIB reviews financial statements and other records of national charities to determine whether they meet certain standards. You may contact this organization for further details.
National Charities Information Bureau (NCIB)
19 Union Square West, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10003-3395
(212) 929-6300
http://www.give.org
Consumer Complaints:
If you have a complaint or information about your charitable giving experience, the Federal Trade Commission would like to know. You can file your complaint through the Internet: FTC online complaint form; by calling 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502; or by mail:
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, D.C. 2058
To file a consumer complaint with the Alaska Attorney General's Office regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices relating to a charitable solicitation you may download the complaint form, or request a consumer packet from the Office of the Attorney General and return the complaint form to the following address:
State of Alaska
Office of the Attorney General
1031 W. 4th Avenue. Suite 200
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Charitable Organization and Paid Solicitor Registration Requirements:
Alaska law requires a charitable organization, and a paid solicitor on behalf of a charitable organization, to register with the Alaska Department of Law prior to soliciting contributions of money or other property in the State of Alaska. To register a person must file with the department the registration forms required by regulation and pay the appropriate fee. Copies of the registration forms may be downloaded from this web page, or may be requested from the department at the address and phone number listed below. Completed forms should be returned to the following address:
State of Alaska
Department of Law
Attorney General's Office
1031 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907) 269-5200
Registration expires on September 1 of each year. To renew a registration, a charitable organization or paid solicitor must file a registration form every year; and in the case of a paid solicitor, provide evidence of the continued bond requirement.
Certain charitable organizations and charitable solicitations are exempt from registration requirements. Be sure to read the statutes and regulations AS 45.68.010 - AS 45.68.900 and 9 AAC 12.010 - 9 AAC 12.900 relating to charitable solicitations to be sure you are not exempt from registration and to insure that you comply with all legal requirements relating to charitable solicitations.
Failure to register with the Alaska Department of Law prior to soliciting charitable contributions for compensation is a class A misdemeanor, and subjects the person to civil penalties under the Alaska Consumer Protect Act (AS 45.50.471 - AS 45.50.561) of up to $25,000 per violation.
Charitable Organization Registration Extensions and Late Fees
Alaska does not grant extensions for charitable organization registrations. If an organization does not have a completed IRS Form 990 for the most current fiscal year prepared at the time of registration, the organization can submit its most recently filed Form 990 with the registration form. The organization should explain on the registration form or cover letter why a Form 990 for the most recent fiscal year was not available. The organization can then update its file by submitting an IRS Form 990 for the most recent fiscal year when it becomes available.
Alaska does not charge late fees for charitable organization registrations received after September 1, however a charitable organization will not be registered in Alaska until its registration forms have been received and approved. Charitable organizations that are required to register under Alaska law cannot solicit contributions in Alaska until they are registered with the Department of Law.
Forms & Fees:
Charitable organization registration and renewal may be submitted using either the Alaska Charitable Organization Registration Form - PDF(504KB) or the Unified Registration Statement. A required fee of $40.00 must accompany a registration form submitted to the department.
Now accepting Visa and MasterCard! Please call 907-269-5100 to pay your registration fee or complete the Credit Card Payment Form (PDF 582KB) and fax or mail the form to:
State of Alaska, Department of Law
1031 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501-1994
Fax: 907-276-3697
Paid solicitor registration and renewal must be submitted using the department's Paid Solicitor Annual Registration Form - PDF(700KB). The registration is complete on the date the department sends notices to the paid solicitor that the registration/renewal is complete. The following must be submitted with a paid solicitor registration form:
- A registration fee of $200.00.
- A copy of a written contract for each charitable organization it contracts with to solicit contributions. The contract must state the respective obligations of the paid solicitor and the charitable organization, including the amount to be paid to the paid solicitor.
- A copy of all scripts used by the paid solicitor for fundraising in Alaska.
- A ten thousand dollar surety bond (if renewing a registration, evidence of the continued bond must be submitted) on the Paid Solicitor Surety Bond - PDF(362KB) established by the department. The surety bond form sets forth the time period that a paid solicitor is required to maintain the bond and provides criteria for cancellation of the bond.
After a solicitation campaign is complete, a paid solicitor must submit a campaign financial report. The campaign financial report must be submitted on the Paid Solicitor Campaign Financial Report Form established by the department.
Forms:
Charitable Organization Registration Form (*NEW!) - PDF(504KB)
Unified Registration Statement (URS) for Charitable Organizations© (v. 3.10)
Paid Solicitor Annual Registration Form (*NEW!) - PDF(700KB)
Paid Solicitor Surety Bond (*NEW!) - PDF(362KB)
Paid Solicitor Solicitation Campaign Financial Report (*NEW!) - PDF(371KB)
* NOTE: Some of our forms have been updated to be more interactive. Now you can type your information directly onto the form, save a copy on your computer or print a copy to fill out by hand.
The Law:
Charitable Solicitations
AS 45.68.010 - AS 45.68.900
9 AAC 12.010 - 9 AAC 12.900
Registered Charitable Organizations and Paid Solicitors:
Charitable Organizations Registered in Alaska - PDF(575KB)
Paid Solicitors Registered in Alaska - COMING SOON!
