Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
(WRDW/WAGT) -- As you decide which charities to donate to this holiday season, we're on your side with what
is deeming the best and worst.
Animal Welfare:BEST | - African Wildlife Foundation (Washington, DC)
- Animal Welfare Institute (Washington, DC)
- Keepers of the Wild (Valentine, AZ)
- PetSmart Charities (Phoenix, AZ)
- Red Rover (Sacramento, CA)
|
WORST | - Noah's Lost Ark (Berlin Center, OH)
- Tiger Missing Link Foundation (Tyler, TX)
- SPCA International (New York, NY)
|
Blind and Visually Impaired:BEST | - Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind (Smithtown, NY)
- Hearing Health Foundation (New York, NY)
- Orbis/Project Orbis International (New York, NY)
- National Federation for the Blind (Baltimore, MD)
- Seva Foundation (Berkeley, Calif.)
|
WORST | - American Council for the Blind (Alexandria, VA)
- Heritage for the Blind (Brooklyn, NY)
- Macular Degeneration Association (Sarasota, FL)
|
Cancer:BEST | - Breast Cancer Research Foundation (New York, NY)
- Cancer Research Institute (New York, NY)
- Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (New York, NY)
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Manhattan Beach, CA)
- Prevent Cancer Foundation (Alexandria, VA)
|
WORST | - American Breast Cancer Foundation (Columbia, MD)
- Cancer Survivors' Fund (Missouri City, TX)
- Childhood Leukemia Foundation (Brick, NJ)
- National Cancer Center (Plainview, NY)
- Walker Cancer Research Institute (Aberdeen, MD)
|
Child Protection:BEST | - Prevent Child Abuse America (Chicago, IL)
- Children Incorporated (Chesterfield, VA)
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (Triangle, VA)
- Pearl S. Buck International (Perkasie, PA)
- Ronald McDonald House Charities (Oak Brook, IL)
|
WORST | - Children's Wish Foundation International (Atlanta, GA)
- Committee for Missing Children (Lawrenceville, GA)
- Find the Children (Santa Monica, CA)
- Kids Wish Network (Holiday, FL)
|
Environment:BEST | - American Bird Conservancy (The Plains, VA)
- Conservation Fund (Arlington, VA)
- Sierra Club Foundation (Oakland, CA)
- Waterkeeper Alliance (New York, NY)
- World Resources Institute (Washington, DC)
|
WORST | - Cousteau Society (Etna, NH)
|
Health:BEST | - American Kidney Fund (Rockville, MD)
- Lupus Research Alliance (New York, NY)
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (New York, NY)
- National Hemophilia Foundation (New York, NY)
- American Lung Association (Chicago, IL)
|
WORST | - Defeat Diabetes Foundation (Madeira Beach, FL)
- Heart Center of America (Knoxville, TN)
- National Caregiving Foundation (Dunkirk, MD)
- National Emergency Medicine Association (Edgewood, MD)
- Parkinson Research Foundation (Sarasota, FL)
|
International relief and development:BEST | - All Hands Volunteers (Mattapoisett, MA)
- Charity:water (New York, NY)
- Fistula Foundation (San Jose, CA)
- Operation USA (Los Angeles, CA)
- UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief, Atlanta, GA)
|
WORST | - Salesian Missions (New Rochelle, NY)
- World Villages for Children (Annapolis, MD)
|
Mental health and disabilities:BEST | - Alzheimer's Association (Chicago, IL)
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (New York, NY)
- Arc of the United States (Washington, DC)
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (New York, NY)
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Arlington, VA)
|
WORST | - Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (Schererville, IN)
|
Police and firefighter support:WORST | - American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens (Titusville, FL)
- Disabled Police and Sheriffs Foundation (Sainte Genevieve, MO)
- Disabled Police Officers of America (Niceville, FL)
- Firefighters Charitable Foundation (Farmingdale, NY)
- Police Protective Fund (Austin, TX)
|
Veterans:BEST | - Homes for Our Troops (Taunton, MA)
- National Military Family Association (Alexandria, VA)
- Operation Homefront (San Antonio, TX)
- The Mission Continues (St. Louis, MO)
- Wounded Warriors Family Support (Omaha, NE)
|
WORST | - Disabled Veterans National Foundation (Lanham, MD)
- Help The Vets (Orlando, FL)
- Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (Annandale, VA)
- National Veterans Services Fund (Darien, CT)
- Veterans Support Foundation (Silver Spring, MD)
|
Youth Development:BEST | - Boys and Girls Clubs of America (Atlanta, GA)
- DonorsChoose.org (New York, NY)
- Girls Inc. (New York, NY)
- National 4-H Council (Chevy Chase, MD)
- Scholarship America (Minneapolis, MN)
|
WORST | - Law Enforcement Education Program (Troy, MI)
- National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League (Wellington, FL)
|
How to Detect Charity Scams
The Federal Trade Commission says these signs should make you suspicious:
- The “charity” can’t provide details about how donations are used.
- The caller can’t provide proof—like a Federal tax ID number—that it’s a qualified charity and that your donation is tax-deductible.
- You're pushed to donate immediately.
- You’re asked to wire a donation.
- You're thanked for a pledge you never made to convince you that you already agreed to donate.