Are you


GIVING WISELY this year-end?


It’s that time of year again when we gather to


give thanks to friends and family, to celebrate our achievements for the year, and to give to those organizations most in need. For many of our readers, this means considering a number of diff erent equine organizations for fi nal year- end gifts. T ere are countless worthy equine charities


both in Maryland and across the United States. Sometimes, however, the process of selecting the charity that you feel most passionate about and comfortable giving to can be daunting. Fortunately, there are many great resources available to you to make sure you are working with and giving to a legitimate cause! National organizations (such as GuideStar and Charity Navigator) have become watchdogs for all types of charitable giving,


providing useful


information to the general public. At T e Equiery and the Horse Council,


we have compiled a few tips from national philanthropic resources to help guide you through this giving season.


Be Careful of Names that Sound Alike Uninformed donors can be easily confused


by charities that have strikingly similar names. Many names are nearly identical, but their performances can be vastly diff erent. Always double check the Charity Navigator ratings! One organization could have a 0-star charity rating while a charity with a similar name could be rated 3-stars. Informed donors take the time to uncover the diff erence. In our world, the most common “sound- alike name” problem is with any organization that utilizes the phrase “humane society.” T e phrase “humane society” is used by lobbying organizations as well as hands-on shelters and rescues; it is employed equally by animal rights political activists and offi cial local government


animal control offi ces. Take the time to check it out!


Confi rm 501(c) (3) Status


Wise donors don’t drop money into canisters at the checkout counter or hand over cash to solicitors outside the supermarket. Situations like these are irresistible to scam artists who wish to take advantage of your good will. Smart givers only support groups granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator meet this basic requirement. We cannot stress enough how important it is to ensure that an organization has a confi rmed 501(c)(3) status and is registered with Maryland’s Secretary of State https://sos. maryland.gov/Charity/Pages/default.aspx In order to solicit donations in Maryland,


Maryland law requires that an entity must be registered with the Maryland Offi ce of the Secretary of State. T ere are some entities that can legitimately accept contributions without being an established, IRS-recognized, charity (such as a bank account temporarily set up to collect funds to help defray immediate major medical costs for an injured rider), so long as that entity is registered with the Offi ce of the Secretary of State. To fi nd out if an organization to which you wish to contribute is legitimate, check with the Offi ce of the Secretary of State. If an entity is not registered, do NOT give it money, as it is breaking the law.


Confi rm Commitment to Accountability & Transparency


Both GuideStar and Charity Navigator


have tools for assessing the accountability and transparency of a charity. T is data is critical because charities that follow good governance and transparency practices are less likely to


engage in unethical or irresponsible activities, so the risk that such charities would misuse donations is lower than for charities that don’t adopt such practices. In Maryland, equine rescues and horse


sanctuaries are required to be licensed by the Maryland Horse Industry Board. If the facility is not licensed but is sheltering horses that are ostensibly rescued or is adopting out horses, you may wonder about other ways in which the facility may be noncompliant. Licensed stables can be found at https://portal.mda.maryland. gov/stables. Also,


if the rescue is soliciting


donations, check to see if it is registered with the Maryland Offi ce of the Secretary of State.


Obtain Copies of the Charity’s Financial Records


Savvy donors know that the fi nancial


health of a charity is a strong indicator of the charity’s performance. T ey know that with most programs, the most effi cient charities spend 75% or more of their budget on their programs and services, and less than 25% on fundraising and administrative fees. T ey also understand that a claim of zero fundraising and/or administrative fees is unlikely at best. Wise donors understand that a charity’s ability to sustain its programs over time is just as important as its short-term day-to-day spending practices. Knowledgeable donors also seek out charities that are able to grow their revenue at least at the rate of infl ation, that continue to invest in their programs and that have some money saved for a rainy day. All horse rescues, equine sanctuaries or programs


therapeutic should be willing


to provide their fi nancial records, even if unaudited.


www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580


THE EQUIERY A MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | NOVEMBER 2020 | 15


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