By Jennifer Jacob Brown

jbrown@themeridianstar.com



These days, Christmastime is more commercialized than ever. Well before Thanksgiving, we are bombarded with ads telling us about all the things that we just have to buy if we want to have a truly merry Christmas.

Stores are filled with frazzled shoppers as America rushes out to purchase expensive gifts, elaborate decorations, lavish foods, and festive clothing. Bank accounts shrink and credit card debt expands as Christmas versions of everything from paper plates to cell phone covers fly off the shelves.

But despite the fact that most Americans have their bank accounts spread thin during the holidays, millions still find a way to set some money aside for their favorite charity.

Christmas has always been a time to reach out and help those in need. There's something about the season that brings out people's tenderhearted, charitable side. And after spending money on things like plastic garlands and carol-singing Santa toys, giving to a worthwhile cause is all the more satisfying. It reminds people that it really is better to give than to receive.

Unfortunately, there are some "charities" that prey on people's increased generosity during the holidays.

A telemarketer may call and ask you to donate to a worthy cause, but neglect to mention that the majority of your donation is going to the telemarketing company. Or you may get a call from a phony charity with a name so similar to a legitimate one that you never realize you've been scammed. The ways in which the unscrupulous can pull one over on the charitable are almost without limit.

Luckily, there are tools out there to help you choose a charity that is not only scrupulous in its practices, but that most matches your personal concerns as well.

One of those tools is a detailed report on Mississippi charities created each year by the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. This report shows how much money each registered charity in Mississippi took in during a given year, and how that money was spent.

"Informed charitable giving helps ensure your hard-earned money, property, and services are dedicated to advance the core charitable purpose or mission of the organizations you support," Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said in a written statement. "Mississippians are some of the most generous in the nation, and we want to make sure that generosity is not taken advantage of."

The most recent report is based on data submitted by March 31, 2008, and shows the percentage of funds that each charity spent on its charitable purpose.

According to the report, the five charities with the highest revenues for fiscal year 2007 in the greater Meridian area were:



Multi-County Community Service Agency: $5,338,871

Hope Village for Children: $2,018,495

Choctaw Area Council Boy Scouts: $1,455,620

Montgomery Institute: $1,342,642

United Way of Meridian: $1,120,325



According to the secretary of state's office, it is recommended that at least 65 percent of a charity's total revenue be spent on activities directly related to the program's charitable purpose. All five of the top-funded charities in our area met or exceeded that percentage, according to the secretary of state's report. Those percentages were:



Multi-County Community Service Agency: 91.21 percent

Hope Village for Children: 82.89 percent

Choctaw Area Council Boy Scouts: 75.89 percent

Montgomery Institute: 65.2 percent

United Way of Meridian: 71.52 percent



There are several things that are not considered directly related to a charitable purpose that a charity might spend money on. The two biggest are fundraising and administrative costs. It is not abnormal for some charities to have higher fundraising costs than others, the secretary of state's office said, because some charities hire professional fundraisers, while others rely on volunteers and their own employees to raise funds.

There are a variety of other non-charitable expenses a charity might have, such as fees paid to their national chapter.

Charities that have an exceedingly low percentage of expenses used for their cause are often investigated by the secretary of state's office, but there are some legitimate reasons for a low percentage. Brand new charities, for example, may have higher administrative expenses due to start-up costs, the secretary of state's office said.

With the report, the secretary of state's office provided tips for making the right decision when donating money.

"The wisest giver is an informed giver," Hosemann said in the written statement. "You give to a charity because you want to make a difference. And you want to make sure your hard-earned charitable contributions are spent in the most efficient, effective way possible."

Hosemann's office advised donors to ask questions before giving, saying "Legitimate charities always welcome your inquiries." The office also advised donors not to heed requests that they give immediately, and instead take time to research the charity before donating.

For requests made over the phone, Hosemann's office said to always ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser, and if so, how much of your contribution goes to the charity.

"Never be afraid to ask for information in writing," the office said. "If asked, a professional telemarketer must immediately inform you of the percentage of money that actually goes to the charity. In addition, this information must be confirmed by the telemarketer in writing within 14 days of your request. You are entitled to the truth about where your money goes."

If you feel uncomfortable about making a donation through a paid fundraiser, but want to donate to the charity they are calling on behalf of, you can always call the charity itself to make a donation directly.

The secretary of state's office also advised to pay special attention to the name of the charity soliciting donations, as some scam artists will use a name similar to that of a well-known charity.

Mail solicitations, the office said, can be tricky too. "Be wary of mail containing novelty items that you can keep 'if you contribute,'" they said. "Federal law states that unless you ordered the item, you can keep it without contributing."

In addition, the office advised to always get receipts for any donations, especially cash, and to make sure you know an organization well before volunteering with them.

In the internet age, it has become much easier to check on a charity than it once was. There are numerous websites dedicated solely to providing information on various charities.

Thad Quarles, director of United Way of East Mississippi, recommended checking charities out on www.guidestar.org. "People are beginning to get more sophisticated with their donation dollars," said Quarles, "There are so many ways now to check the voracity of non-profits...and (Guidestar) is a great way to see what the organization is all about."

The Better Business Bureau's website, www.bbb.org, is also a good resource if you suspect you are being solicited by a charity that is not legit.

Quarles also pointed out that giving to his own organization, United Way of East Mississippi, is a good way of making sure your money goes to a worthy cause. United Way funds a number of local charities, and makes sure the charities they sponsor have scrupulous practices.

Along with helping donors get their money to good charities, United Way also helps people in need find the charity that will help them with its 211 service. Dial 211 on your phone, and a United Way worker will direct you to the charity that can help with your problem.

Though there are plenty of scam artists claiming to be charities out there, and many of them aggressively solicit funds over the phone, there are many more legitimate charities that are really working to help people. When deciding which worthy cause you want to support this Christmas, remember to do your research, don't give in to pressure tactics, and support charities you know.

To view the secretary of state's charities report in its entirety, visit the secretary of state's office on the Web at www.sos.ms.gov.



Local charities sponsored by United Way



If you are unsure of which charity to donate to, the United Way of East Mississippi is a good resource. In addition to administering programs of their own, the United Way grants significant funding to a number of local charities, all of which they research to ensure they are good stewards of those funds. The local charities you can help by donating to the United Way of East Mississippi are:

Red Cross Key Chapter

Boy Scouts local chapter

Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi

Community of Hope Tutoring Program

Foster Grandparent Program

Retired and Senior Volunteer Effort

South Harbor Shelter

L.O.V.E.'s Kitchen

Meals on Wheels

Hope Village for Children

Girl Scouts local chapter

Wesley House

Salvation Army local chapter



Local charity spending



The following shows the percentage of its expenses that each charity with a local address on the secretary of state's charity report use directly toward its charitable cause. All data is for fiscal year 2007 unless otherwise noted. Charities with a revenue of $0 are excluded. If you don't see your charity on the list, they may have been exempt from filing their information:



Charity - Revenue - Percent of Revenue Spent on Charitable Purpose



Newton Community Healthcare - $93,712 - 99.17

Grace Point Ministries - $28,157 - 99.04

Meridian Artists Co-op - $16,075 - 98.9

Rush Employee Benevolence Corp. - $25,049 - 98.18

Community of Hope - $58,009 - 97.83

L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen - $219,095 - 97.54

Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum (FY 2008) - $175,010 - 96.85

Care Lodge - $741,782 - 93.18

Multi-County Community Service Agency - $5,338,871 - 91.21

First Tee of Meridian - $45,011 - 89.94

Meridian Little Theater (FY 2006) - $359,575 - 88.71

Meridian Council for the Arts - 2008 - $40,121 - 83.96

Hope Village - $2,018,495 - 82.86

Choctaw Area Council - $1,455,620 - 75.89

Meridian Symphony Orchestra - $160,723 - 73.8

Lauderdale Co. Habitat - $145,756 - 72.6

Mental Health Assoc. of L.C. - $13,367 - 72.49

United Way of Meridian - $1,120,325 - 71.52

Boys and Girls Club East Central MS - $240,799 - 71.14

Montgomery Institute - $1,342,642 - 65.2

EMBDC Foundation - $34,256 - 59.65

Mdn Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 - 2008 - $590 - 59.32

Wesley House - $819,939 - 56.52

Center for Pregnancy Choices - $100,975 - 54.75

Community Foundation - $653,395 - 50.21

Friends of CMRC - $19,340 - 49.98

Southern Arts and Entertainment Center - $106,430 - 28.5

Active Committee in Marion - $2,818 - 22

Hamasa Shriners - $444,409 - 17.95

Harvest Center in Quitman (FY 2008) - $2,200 - 6.82

Mississippi Writer’s Guild - $15,424 - 0

Feed by Faith (FY 2008) - $6,350 - 0

Natalee Holloway Foundation - $4,981 - 0