Protect Your Generosity This Giving Tuesday
Hopefully everyone has recovered from turkey comas and the whirlwind of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday shopping, though my wallet might need a little more time! If you’re like me, your inbox has shifted from sales alerts to a flood of emails from nonprofits eager to make the most of Giving Tuesday.
If you’re curious, Giving Tuesday began 13 years ago in New York and has grown into a global movement. In 2024, Americans donated an incredible $3.6 billion in just one day! Many ministries you love are participating, but so are scammers looking to take advantage of your generosity.
So, how do we give safely? Here are 5 quick tips to protect your donations:
- Give to trusted organizations
Donate through official websites or platforms you know. If you receive an email or social media link, verify it before clicking. - Watch for fake websites
Scammers create look-alike sites. Check the web address carefully, look for “https://” and the correct spelling of the organization’s name. - Don’t share personal info by email
Legitimate charities will never ask for sensitive details (like Social Security numbers) via email or text. - Use secure payment methods
Credit cards or reputable payment services (like PayPal) offer better protection than wire transfers or gift cards.
For even more security, consider using Apple Pay or Google Pay. These services use tokenization (your actual card number isn’t shared), encryption, and biometric authentication, making them safer than typing in your card details directly. - Look for signs of urgency
Messages that say “donate now or lose your chance” are often scams. Take your time to confirm before giving.
Extra Tip: If something feels off, trust your instincts. When in doubt, go directly to the charity’s official site.
Your generosity makes a difference, let’s make sure it’s safe.
Jonathan Meester, VP & Chief Technologist, Computers in Ministry
Have you missed out on past tips? Do you want to share them with your colleagues? Now they can be found on our website https://cimtech.org/blog.
