Researching Background Information on a Business or Charity

There are several different ways to research background information on a business or charity:

• Visit the Better Business Bureau (BBB) online and utilize their "Check Out a Business or Charity" feature.
  • You may also wish to contact your local BBB to see if the company or charity is a BBB member.
  • While the BBB is not a regulatory agency, they may be able to provide you with general information.
• Check with your state business regulatory or licensing agency to make sure the company has the proper licenses to do business in that state. You may also contact your state consumer protection agency for further assistance and referrals.
• To find out if a company is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, please visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Search for Charities website.
• If the company or charity organization operates nationally, you may want to contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) . To inquire if anyone filed complaints against a company or charity organization, the FTC suggests you make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request .
• If the company is located outside the United States, you may contact the U.S. Commercial Service to receive information regarding the viability and reliability of an overseas company.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provides a website about getting information from companies that can assist you in obtaining corporate reports, which tell you whether a company is making money or losing money and why. These reports can help you to invest wisely and avoid investment scams. Information about how much a company paid in taxes is included in a company's annual report (which is one of the corporate reports mentioned above).
• The National Resource Directory offers a list of non-profit and charity evaluators on their website.

Consumer information on a wide variety of subjects is available on the consumer protection section of USA.gov , which provides useful addresses, telephone numbers, and a sample letter to help consumers with various types of complaints.

You may also wish to view tips on avoiding fraudulent charitable contribution schemes .

Additional information about charitable donations is available on the FTC's website, including a charity precaution checklist