Beware of Venmo Fake Bond Donations
The Minnesota Freedom Foundation, which is helping out protesters in Minneapolis, has become a popular donation cause this week. Great! But make sure you go to their real website – and don’t donate to a fake venmo that is running on their behalf.
This is good advice for any cause you would like to donate to: always check the organization you donate to and make sure you find the most direct way to contribute.
Find the organization’s official website or verified social media account.
Make sure you are dealing with the organization itself. On social networks, you can often see who else is following an account. Organizations doing the same mission will often follow and support each other, and you may also notice that trusted friends are signing up for an account.
Find out what they do and what they need
The support of a friend or influencer is great, but it’s always appropriate to inform yourself about the work the organization is doing. Make sure this is the group you want to support and check their website for how best to support them.
For example, food banks can do more with money than with food donations . Some may point you to other funds as well. For example, the Minnesota Freedom Foundation has received so many donations that they are asking donors to share their love, naming several other organizations that can also benefit from help now.
You can also check an unfamiliar organization on sites like Guidestar or Charity Navigator to make sure they are legal.
Donate as they ask
When you are ready to give, do it as the organization asks. If their website has a large DONATE button, this is the best option. If they offer multiple options, see if any is listed as preferred. When in doubt, the most direct option is best.
Looking for ways to protect black lives? Check out this list of resources .