Card 1 — The Goal
🔎 The Registry Search: Look the organization up in your country's official charity registry — legit groups show financials and directors. Missing filings or revoked status = hard pass.
Give Without Getting Played: 5 Checks Before You Volunteer or Donate
Card 2 — Step 1
🖥️ The 5-Minute Site Scan: Physical address, named board members, an annual report from the last two years. Scam charities hide all three behind vague 'initiatives' and stock photos.
Card 3 — Step 2
📧 The Transparency Test: Email one question: 'Can you share how volunteers are assigned?' Clear answer within days = healthy org. Vague or pushy = red flag, whatever the cause.
Card 4 — Step 3
💬 The Pattern Check: Search the org's name plus 'reviews' or 'experiences.' Real volunteers describe specific tasks and days; fake credibility reads like generic praise from nowhere.
Card 5 — The Cheat Sheet
📊 The Allocation Ask: Ask what share of donations goes to programs vs admin. Legit orgs answer in percentages or ranges without defensiveness. Refusal to answer IS the answer.