Everything from toys and clothes to food and cash makes its way to numerous charitable causes during the holiday season. And that’s why two state agencies are offering resources to make sure Washingtonians’ generosity goes to legitimate causes. 

The state offices of the Secretary of State and Attorney General have launched their collaborative Assured Giving campaign to encourage donors to charitable organizations to “Pause. Check the Cause.” 

“The holidays are a time to spread joy and give to those who need it most, not to scammers and frauds,” said Secretary Steve Hobbs in a statement. “Assured Giving provides Washingtonians tools to protect themselves against fraud and ensure their hard-earned money and donations go where they are intended, not into the pockets of scammers.” 

What to keep in mind when giving this season: 

• Pause. Do not give in to high-pressure solicitations demanding immediate commitment.  
• Check the organization receiving your support on the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System before donating to make sure it is registered, and view the Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report, which is updated frequently. 
• If an organization is registered, review its annual registration, including its federal tax-exempt status and financial information. If the organization is not registered, contact the Charities division at 360-725-0377, email [email protected], or on the Corporations & Charities rapid chat feature.  
• Check the organization’s Better Business Bureau rating at Give.org.  
• If a third party is raising money for a charity, call the charity directly to make sure it authorized the solicitor to collect donations on its behalf.  
• Do not give any personal information over the phone to any charity, and do not give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you did not expect.