Start With Registration
The Colorado Secretary of State's Wise Giving Tips say charities soliciting donations in Colorado must register. Before giving, check registration status and whether financial reporting is up to date. The tips point to state charity searches and the IRS search tool as places to do that checking.
Begin with the organization's identity. Compare the name in the appeal with the name in its records, and watch for names that sound similar to well-known charities. Write down the identity, mission, finances, and intended use of your donation. The Secretary of State advises caution when a charity will not provide detailed information on those points.
Use the IRS Search Tool
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search lets you check eligibility to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions and review an organization's tax-exempt status and filings. Search by employer identification number, often shortened to EIN, or by organization name. Keep the search details beside the appeal so you can compare them carefully.
The tool includes Form 990 series returns, Form 990-N e-Postcards, Pub. 78 data, the automatic revocation of exemption list, and determination letters. Choose the database that matches your question. You might be checking eligibility for deductible gifts or looking for filings; those are different reasons to search. The IRS cautions that its computer-record entries have limitations, particularly in their format and arrangement.
Tax-Exempt Is Not the Same as Tax-Deductible
The Secretary of State warns that a tax identification number does not necessarily mean your contribution is tax-deductible. Ask about the contribution itself, verify with a tax advisor or the IRS, and request a receipt showing the amount and stating that it is deductible. Keep that question separate from whether you support the cause.
According to the IRS explanation of charitable contribution deductions, itemizers may deduct gifts of money or property to qualified organizations. It describes a general limit of 50% of adjusted gross income, with 20% and 30% limits applying in some cases. The search tool uses deductibility status codes to identify those limits. This is information for a discussion about your circumstances, rather than a calculation of your own deduction.
The 2026 Deduction for Non-Itemizers
The IRS describes a deduction beginning with tax year 2026 for individuals who do not itemize: up to $1,000 of cash contributions to eligible charitable organizations, or $2,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. The IRS says non-itemizers previously did not receive a federal income tax benefit for those cash contributions.
The details matter. Noncash gifts such as clothing, stock, or other property do not qualify for this deduction. Donations to donor-advised funds and supporting organizations also do not qualify. The cash must be contributed during the tax year; prior-year carryovers are excluded. Check the recipient and the gift type, and discuss any uncertainty with a tax advisor before assuming that a contribution qualifies.
Crowdfunding and Gifts to One Family
For social-network and crowdfunding appeals, the Secretary of State recommends finding out whether the money goes to a charity, the platform, or the person who organized the appeal. Check what percentage reaches the charitable cause and whether you will be charged a fee. Make a note of what the appeal says the donation will support and whether it describes any local benefit.
The same guidance says donations earmarked for a particular individual or family are not tax-deductible. You can care about a neighbor's situation while keeping that tax distinction clear. Before deciding, compare the appeal's promised use of funds with the answers you receive about who gets the money.
After a Disaster
The Secretary of State suggests considering existing charities and community foundations near an affected area after a disaster. Its guidance notes their experience and understanding of local needs. Contributions to qualified charities may be earmarked for flood, wildfire, or other disaster relief. Our charitable giving guide can help you put these checks into a broader giving plan, while ways to give help covers other forms of support.