In 2013, two London School of Economics researchers decided to follow their instincts and try to prove that America’s dues paying union members donate more than the average U.S. non-represented employee.
Using data from a study that has followed American families since 1968, researchers Jonathan Booth and Mark Williams found that American dues paying union members are 5 percent more likely to donate to a charity, and when they do give, they donate 30 percent more than non-union members.
In a 2013 article to promote their findings, Booth and Williams concluded: “Compared to non-union members, actual dues paying, union members choose to give and give more of their income to charitable causes.”
That’s why UAW Legal Services Plan participants should know how to protect themselves and their family when making charitable giving decisions. Here are two the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to protect yourself from dishonest or poorly operated charities that try to take advantage of your generosity.
First,don’t rush to give money. Unless you are very familiar with the charity, trust your gut and research the charity seeking a donation if you’re interested in the cause. A number of trustworthy organizations monitor charities and have searchable databases so you can check on the charity’s track record.Trustworthy monitoring organizations include Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), BBBWise Giving Alliance (give.org), Charity Watch (charitywatch.org) and Guidestar (guidestar.org). By doing a little research,you can learn how much of your donation will be used by the charity compared to payouts for overhead expenses, whether the charity is really tax-exempt under law, and whether there are consumer or government complaints against the organization.
Second,if you do decide to make a donation after you’re satisfied the charity is legitimate, make that donation by check or credit card. Later, look at your bank and credit card statements carefully to be sure that only the amount you wanted to donate was deducted. Make sure that the donation is not recurring(unless you wanted it to be a recurring donation). Never make a donation by gift card or wire transfer. Scam artists masquerading as charity solicitors use this tactic to steal your money. Losses to generous people who fall for this scam are increasing every year.
Be generous, but give wisely. If you do become a victim of an unscrupulous charity, call the Plan for help immediately at (800) 482-7700. Remember, #ItsYourPlan.