Homeless Shelter in Georgia, Atlanta Mission, Shares How to Be a Savvy and Informed Donor

    ATLANTA, GA, November 21, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Atlanta Mission, which has homeless shelters in Atlanta, knows that people have a lot of non-profit organizations in Atlanta and worldwide competing for their money. They share some tips for being a wise donor.

Find Something You are Passionate About

Identify the causes and organizations that are most important to you. It can be something you feel strongly about or that has impacted you or someone close to you. It's always nice to choose an organization that specifically helps people in your community so you can see your money at work and feel more connected to those you are helping.

Confirm the Organization's 501(c)(3) Status

Once you have identified a group that you want to support, make sure it has been given tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. That information should be somewhere on the organization's website. To qualify for 501(c)(3) status, an organization may not be operated for the benefit of private interests. These groups must also limit their political and lobbying activities.

How Do They Spend Their Money?

The most efficiently-run charities generally spend at least 75 percent of their budget on programs and services, with only a small amount going to fundraising and administrative fees, including CEO compensation. If you don't have the time or expertise to pore over charities' financial records, the website http://www.charitynavigator.org/ is an excellent resource for information about non-profit organizations' financial metrics.

Josh Deyton, Director of External Marketing of Atlanta Mission, says, "We want people to know that when they donate to us, their money and goods are going to our Atlanta homeless shelters as well as our other services to work toward ending homelessness. That's why we are proud to have Charity Navigator's highest score possible for 'Accountability & Transparency.'"

Donate Something Beyond Money

You don't have to donate money to make a difference. Even if you don't have extra cash to give, you can contribute your time, talent, or non-cash items. Maybe you can devote a day each week to volunteer your services. Many charities, like Atlanta Mission, also have thrift stores in Atlanta that can always use items that you no longer need.

To find out more about giving and volunteer opportunities at Atlanta Mission, visit http://www.atlantamission.org/.

About Atlanta Mission:

Atlanta Mission was established in 1938 and is now the city's largest and longest-running provider of services to homeless men, women and children. They offer emergency and temporary shelter, recovery programs, job attainment services and transitional housing for more than 950 men, women and children on a daily basis.

To learn more, go to http://www.atlantamission.org/.

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