Double-Check Before You Donate To Charity

'Tis the season for giving, but unfortunately, it's also a time when unscrupulous charities take advantage of people, warns Goodwill.

Goodwill is urging consumers to double-check before donating goods this holiday season.

First, donors should check with their state attorney general or secretary of state's office to find out if a charity is legitimate.

Second, they should check with a charity-rating agency -- such as GuideStar or Charity Navigator -- or the Better Business Bureau to find out more about specific charities.

"At Goodwill, we find that people want to do the right thing by donating gently used items. Sadly, in the rush of the holiday season, they sometimes drop their unwanted items at the nearest collection bin," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "It may seem as if they are making a charitable donation, but that is not always the case."

Read more about how to make sure you are donating to a legitimate charity at the link below:

Double-Check Before You Donate