Season of Giving Securely

The Season of Giving (Securely)

December is the most popular month for charitable donations. In fact, 26% of all nonprofit online donations occur in December, with 5% occurring on December 31 by itself.

Why? It could be due to the spirit of giving that permeates American culture this time of year. It could be the tax incentives that can only be gained before the end of the year. It could be that colder temperatures bring more time for reflection on what’s truly important in life. It could also be that everyone is asking.

With asks coming from trusted nonprofits, Facebook friends and perhaps even fraudsters, it can be a lot. So, let’s make things simpler. 

Read on to learn why asking is important to nonprofits, various ways you can make a difference with your year-end giving, and a few tips to help you give securely.

Why Nonprofits Ask

Creekside Forest School teacher showing praying mantis to students
Indian Creek Nature Center relies on donations to advance its nonprofit mission. Many donations come in near the end of the year.

As American author Nora Roberts once said, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”

Nonprofits know that people are generous and looking to support causes important to them. 50% of households across all income levels, including 81% of affluent households, gave in 2023

It’s up to nonprofits to help potential donors know where to send their donations to make the impact they hope to see in the world. Since nonprofits need donations to make their missions come to life, the ask is an essential part of any sustainable nonprofit’s mission. 

Indian Creek Nature Center (along with many other worthy nonprofits) truly does rely on the spirit of generosity that drives people to charitable giving. Protecting and stewarding more than 400 acres of land; using those outdoor spaces to educate and inspire; and maintaining the staff, volunteers and infrastructure that make it all possible don’t happen without charitable donations.

You can make a quick and easy donation to the Nature Center’s secure online giving form.  While the majority of donors prefer to give online, there are lots of other ways to make a gift. 

Immediate Impact

Donors looking to make an impact right away can look to an organization’s annual giving campaign, or annual fund. 

When a donor supports an annual fund, they directly impact the most urgent needs of the organization. Making contributions to an organization’s annual fund is a great way for donors to signal their belief in an organization’s mission and to know they are playing a role in its success.

Indian Creek Nature Center’s Annual Giving campaign launches in October every year and helps raise tens of thousands of dollars that drive our mission forward. These dollars fund the essentials. 

Supplies such as oil for chainsaws that allow the land team to clear debris and make the trails hikable after a storm are supported by annual gifts. Food for the resident animals that many visitors, field trip students and summer campers get to meet is purchased with funds from annual donors.

Long-Term Impact

Summer flowers in Bena Prairie
Immediate and planned gifts both help Indian Creek Nature Center protect more than 400 acres of wetlands, prairies and woodlands.

Nonprofits like Indian Creek Nature Center, that plan to stay around for decades to come, need the immediate support from annual gifts and support from planned gifts that make a lasting difference far into the future.

Planned gifts are contributions that families or individuals include in their wills and estate plans. 

There are many ways to create a lasting legacy through planned giving that will plant a seed for a brighter future. This can be as simple as adding a nonprofit organization as a beneficiary in a will, insurance plan, retirement account, charitable trust or endowed fund.

Giving Securely

Along with all the nonprofits doing good in the world, there are also fraudsters trying to trick people. Thankfully, there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your giving goes to the nonprofits you care about – and nowhere else.

Tips courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission:

  • Pay attention to how you pay: Scammers will often ask you to pay in cash, by wiring money or by gift card. Reputable organizations will ask you to pay by check or credit card.
  • Keep track of your donations: After giving, review your statements to ensure the amount and frequency of your gift matches what you intended. Most nonprofits will send an email confirmation and tax acknowledgement letter that include details of your donation.
  • Know the Red Flags: Misspelled email addresses. Phone calls rushing you into making a donation. Strange-looking links. If you see these red flags or anything else that makes you pause, you can always make a gift to another organization.
  • Research Your Charity: Before clicking to give on an email, text or ad sent to you, open up a search engine and do a little research. You can even search the organization’s name plus “fraud” or “scam” and see what shows up.

In short, take your time and listen to your instincts. A nonprofit hasn’t really earned your gift until they’ve earned your trust. 

Now that you’ve got the knowledge and resources, you can celebrate this season of giving securely.

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