Sanctuary Standards

How do you tell a real sanctuary
from a fake one?

It's actually sometimes easier to tell the difference between a diamond and a cubic zirconium than a true and fake sanctuary. The fake ones usually put on a good front and insist on keeping you in the dark. Many of them are private and don't allow the animals to ever be seen by the general public. Many times this tactic is used to keep people from seeing the deplorable conditions in which the animals live. Fake sanctuaries often have wonderful websites full of self-serving information about all the many wonderful ways your donations save lives. They rely heavily on direct mail campaigns and paid solicitors, which can be expensive and is all paid for by donations to the charity. Here are a few ways to tell if the sanctuary you support is real:

SANCTUARY STANDARDS

There are some very important facts to know about non-profit charities before donating to them or making a commitment to sit on the board of directors for one. Although there are many effective charities that do great work, an estimated $40-50 billion per year is lost to fraud in non-profits and scandal is found in over 20% of philanthropic organizations, according to the New York Times. Charities need to tighten controls against theft, especially in a tough economy. It is wise to be skeptical and do your due diligence before involving yourself or your financial support.

FRAUD IN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Verify the financial and tax information of 501(c)3 charities at Guidestar.

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