ConsumerReports: Best and worst charities to donate to this holiday season

Published: Nov. 25, 2016 at 8:22 AM EST
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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.