• Consumer Alerts
  • 2010 Consumer Alerts
  • 2009 Consumer Alerts
  • 2008 Consumer Alerts
  • 2007 Consumer Alerts
  • 2006 Consumer Alerts
  • 2005 Consumer Alerts
  • 2004 Consumer Alerts
  • 2003 Consumer Alerts
  • 2002 Consumer Alerts
  • 2001 Consumer Alerts
  • 2000 Consumer Alerts
• Alberta Consumer Champion Awards
• Charitable Organizations
• Filing a Consumer Complaint
• Free Resources and Materials
• Identity Theft
• License and Register a Business
• Payday Loan Calculator
• Reality Choices
• Search for a Business, Charity or Fundraiser
• Utilities Consumer Advocate
• Common Questions - Consumer Information
• Tipsheets - Consumer Information
• Forms - Consumer Information
• Legislation - Consumer Information
• External Links - Consumer Information

Consumer Tips on Charitable Giving for Victims of Terrorist Attacks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDMONTON, September 27, 2001 – In light of the recent tragedies in New York and Washington D.C., Albertans – along with all North Americans – are being asked to give generously to a variety of charitable causes. Alberta Government Services asks Albertans to take precautions to ensure their money supports the causes they intend.

"Much of the effort to assist our friends in the United States has gone exceptionally well and Albertans have responded with much-needed generosity," said Government Services Minister David Coutts. "Unfortunately, there have already been instances of scam artists taking advantage of sympathetic people. We simply want Albertans to know ahead of time what they can do to prevent such occurrences."

Some quick tips to remember include the following:

• Ask for written information, including the charity’s name, address and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fund-raiser must provide such materials, including the charity’s mission and how donations will be used.
• Ask for identification. Fund-raisers should identify themselves as such and identify the charity for which they are soliciting.
• Call the charity. Find out if the organization is aware of solicitations being made on its behalf and whether or not it has authorized the use of its name.
• Watch for similar sounding charity names. Some questionable charities use names that closely resemble those of legitimate organizations.
• Ask how your donation will be distributed. Check on how much will go to the charitable cause and how much will go to administrative costs.
• Avoid cash gifts that can be lost or stolen. For security purposes, it is best to pay by cheque with the full name of the organization written on it, even if the solicitation occurs via the Internet. Take time to investigate the request and the site where it originated. There is no obligation to provide a credit card number as the only method of payment.

Alberta’s Charitable Fundraising Act requires charities to use contributions in accordance with donors’ intentions and obtain explicit consent before altering the conditions of a gift. In addition, charities and fund-raising businesses cannot claim anyone sponsors or approves of their cause without written consent of the parties involved.

Albertans are encouraged to contact Government Services toll free at 1-877-427-4088 to check the licence and registration of any charity before donating. For more information on Alberta’s charity regulations, a tipsheet is available on the department’s web site at www.gov.ab.ca/gs under Forms and Publications.

-30-

Media enquiries may be directed to:
Shannon Larkins
Alberta Government Services
(780) 415-6051