By Chelsea Titus
Round Table editor

‘Tis the season for charities and fundraisers to ask you to give, but with requests coming from all directions, how do you know that your donations go where they say it will?

Whether you’re out shopping, browsing the internet, or even at home, you’re likely to come across someone asking you to donate. But, a little digging on your part could help you know exactly where your money is going.

If a person asks you to donate, and they claim the money will go to a particular group or a church, simply call them. If it is a larger organization, you can actually look up their financial reports and registration with the state by going online.

Charities that solicit must be registered at the state, so the State Secretary will have all necessary information.

Maryland is home to 26,000 nonprofit organizations that employ nearly 240,000 people, representing 9.4 percent of the state’s workforce and 8.3 percent of its payroll.

According to thebostonchannel.com, in 2009, telemarketers kept 57 percent of your donations and charities kept 43 percent, on average. For example, All-Pro Productions raised 440, 594 dollars in 2009 and actually gave 98,765 dollars to a charity.

Here are some “Donation Do’s” to help you:

DO- Get a receipt for your donation.

DO-Check the organization out before you give.

DO-Review the organizations Web site for a breakdown of where it allocates its donations.

It’s important that charitable donors are able to have confidence in nonprofit organizations and charities.