Formulario de búsqueda

Ask an Advisor Answers

Question:
How do I go about getting approval from an charity organization. Please let me know who I would contact, to use the name to be used to ask for donations through my business. A portion of the sale I would like donated. I'm sure there are legal steps to do this.
Answer:

Hi Geo,
Thank you for visiting the Community Tool Box and Ask an Advisor, we value your inquiry and hope that we provide you with a useful and applicable answer. Well, I must say that your question is quite unique and interesting because most people usually ask us how to attract donors rather than how to actually be a donor! I think the answer is fairly simple in that the steps are straightforward. If you have a target charity (s) in mind you can start by looking at who is on their staff by position. A number of types of staff come to mind including the development officer, the chief financial officer/chief operations officer, and the chief executive officer/president in terms of who to initially contact, unless you know someone already within the organization who can steer you to the people who can help you make this happen. Make an introductory email or phone call ahead of a site visit (if possible) to explain what you want to do and why their organization in particular is the target of your affections (in a manner of speaking). When you contact them (I'd suggest going right to the top of the organizational food chain) you need to be clear (using this language) that you want to donate a percentage (the exact percentage will likely be based on your own operating costs and profit margins) of the proceeds from your sales to their organization, for how long, when you want to start, and how you want it to be used - be specific. For example, you may want it to go to the general operating budget, a particular program, a scholarship fund, or whatever it may be; again you can and should specify how you want your contribution used based on your values and what improvements in the human condition you'd like to see happen that the organization can likely achieve. You correctly surmised that there are legalities, but other than banking regulations the laws have mostly to do with taxes and not the actual mechanisms by which your contribution goes into their account and subsequently gets used. Consult with an accountant about the tax aspect of your contribution. Most charitable organizations I know have people who can make this happen for you and when you contact them they'll connect you with the people who will work with you to get everything set up, typically through bank accounts. For example, you make a sale and then you deposit the money into your business account from which you pay your expenses, correct? Okay, so what will likely happen is that you can have your bank make an automatic monthly payment, based on the percentage of the proceeds from sales you've designated, directly to the charitable organization's bank account which it will then use for the designated purpose. This is the same as if you have automatic bill pay. Again, the organization will work with you to get all this set up. My last bit of advice, if I were you I would make it clear you want verification your contribution is being used in the ways in which you intended it to be used regardless of the size of your contribution. Don't simply trust that they're doing what you want done, ask for an accounting, either monthly, every other month, or whenever. If they can't show you or are vague, I say find another organization you value as much if not more. It's not like charitable organizations are out to scam anyone, but too often you hear of only a tiny fraction of contributions being used as intended and a large fraction going to administrative costs including salaries - not good, so caveat emptor (buyer beware). In sum Geo, identify staff by position (start at the top unless you know someone in the organization you can talk to first), email or call, clearly explain what you want to do (donating a percentage of the proceeds from your direct sales, etc..), if they're willing and eager they'll connect you with the people in the organization who can help you make this happen, and finally, make sure your money is being used as intended. With that I hope we've been of use to you, if not, please let us know and we'll work with you to find a solution. Again Geo, thank you for your visit to Ask an Advisor and for your contribution to making the world a better place, take care, be well, and remember, you're never alone!
Ask an Advisor

Question Date: Mié, 04/20/2016