Labels, Magnets and Notepads, Oh My

These are just a few of the items we find in the mail when someone asks for donations. We did not ask for these items, so why do we feel obligated to pay?

Sure, when we read the solicitation telling us it will save a child, puppy or kitten, or help injured or killed firefighters or veterans and the cost is $15, we pull our checkbooks out and send it off without a second thought. But, do we really know to whom we are sending our money?

A few weeks ago, after I gave a presentation to a local senior organization, a lady came up to me and wanted to know if she was giving her money to a bogus organization. She handed me the material she received asking for her annual donation, but in the upper right corner it read “Annual Membership Renewal” and on the back of the form explained that any money sent is not tax deductible. Cash donations (where no gift is purchased) to nonprofit organizations are generally tax-deductible.
If we want to make a donation to an unfamiliar organization, we should first find out where the donation is going. The Web sites of the Better Business Bureau and GuideStar can help you determine if an organization is legitimate.

Yes, the solicitation gifts we get in the mail are sometimes nice and maybe even useful. However have you ever thought about how much of your money is going to your selected organization, or if any of it even does? Our charity dollars are an investment in our community, the nation and the world. It’s wise to use just as much caution when making our charitable giving decisions as we do when making other decisions affecting our overall financial picture. Remember, this is your money! Shouldn’t you know where it is going and what it is used for?

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Past Post

For free or not for free? That is the question! (Jan. 21, 2008)

High-Pressure Tactics and Car Warranty Scams — Seniors, You’re It! (Jan. 7, 2008)

Shawne Buckner

Consumer Affairs Outreach Specialist

County of Summit, Office of Consumer Affairs

As an outreach specialist, I am responsible for developing a consumer education program, giving public presentations and mediating consumer complaints against businesses regarding the purchase of goods or services. Many of these complaints involve foreign lottery scams, predatory mortgage lending, unauthorized charges on credit cards, mail order and telephone sales, motor vehicle repairs, Internet scams and prize offers. I am member of the Summit County Foreclosure Prevention Partnership Program and Tuff Stuff Committee and a board member of Westside Neighborhood Development Corporation of Akron, where I help to provide leadership in the area of housing and commercial revitalization.

I began my career in consumer protection and education in November 2006; prior to that I worked in the banking/mortgage industry for over 10 years. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, I graduated from Ellet High School and went on to pursue an education in criminal justice at The University of Akron.

If I had to pick one thing that I love about my job, I would choose the public speaking events that I give to senior citizens. My goal is to educate as many senior citizens as possible about ways to protect themselves from becoming a victim of crime. My speeches to senior groups range from medical health claim scams, free credit reports, work-at-home schemes and home improvement scams, to protecting themselves from purse snatchings, robberies and burglaries.