You want to help but don’t know how?: You should avoid this mistake when donating

According to von Schnurbein, which charity to choose is an individual question. If an organization claims that 100 percent of the money will flow directly to projects, you should be careful. “Administrative costs occur all the time in both small and large organizations.” Because of this, many donors feel like some of their donations are being usurped by the organization. According to von Schnurbein, this is a misconception: “The costs that aid organizations require for their management and operations are as important as the money coming into the field.” This ensures smooth operation.

The Zewo quality seal serves as a guide for donors. He knows nonprofits and has a high reputation, according to von Schnurbein. “The seal signifies social, humanitarian and ecological organizations,” he says. Zewo certification shows that donations have been handled well and forces organizations to disclose their expenses. From Schnurbein: “This ensures a high level of transparency. “This makes it easier for donors to get an overview.”

Small organizations often work towards specific projects: for example, a school building in a village in Northern Malawi. According to Schnurbein, anyone who donates money to such an organization can assume that the money will be used there as well. Additionally, small charities often rely on volunteer work. “If this is important to you, it is better to donate to small organizations,” says the expert. It may also make sense to donate to a large organization. “They can do more on a social level and have a much bigger impact.”

If it’s important for you to know exactly how your donation will be used, von Schnurbein recommends specifying a specific donation purpose for each donation. “Organizations need to take this into consideration.” Anyone who states the purpose of a large organization operating at home and abroad as “domestic” is forcing the organization to use the money for projects in Switzerland. “But it is often difficult to accurately track your own donation,” says von Schnurbein.

Von Schnurbein says it’s important to donate your money to only one organization. Because: “If you divide the donation amount among five organizations, you will give less money to each organization, but you will cause the same administrative labor everywhere.” In particular, this means that all organizations will send repeated reminder letters, which requires follow-up costs. But experience shows that donors rarely give again to all five organizations. Von Schnurbein: “The biggest impact in the long run is those who donate to the same organization year after year.”