Albuquerque, NM – The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) is proud to highlight the vital work of our Charities team during Charity Fraud Awareness Week, a time when many are inspired to donate to causes nationwide. This holiday season, the NMDOJ supports everyone who seeks to give back and make a difference. We strongly encourage individuals to research charities thoroughly before donating to avoid falling victim to fraud. Please refer to the tips below to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams and ensure your generosity supports legitimate, trusted organizations.
“This time of year, many New Mexicans are giving thanks and sharing their generosity with charitable organizations that serve our communities. We want to ensure that they are armed with resources to give, and give safely,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Unfortunately, there are organizations that may try to take advantage of our community’s collective generosity, my office has helpful tools and resources to help the public make safe choices when giving.”
The NMDOJ is authorized to monitor and enforce the Charitable Solicitations Act, NMSA 1978 § 57-22. Subsequently, charities are required to register and file annual reports using the New Mexico Charitable Organization Registration Online System (NM-COROS), available at NMDOJ.gov/Charities.
In addition to monitoring and enforcing the act, the NMDOJ also allows all collected data to be available to the public on its website. The NMDOJ website offers a plethora of self-reported information about each registered charity that can be used by the public to vet organizations.
Tips for making informed decisions around charitable giving:
- Check to see if the organization is registered and in compliance, and continues to register yearly, with the NMDOJ by visiting NMDOJ.gov/Charities
- To find a charity: scroll to the links at the bottom and click “New Mexico Charity Search”
- Check to see where the majority of the organization’s funds are being allocated
- Examine the accessible tax documents for additional information, including whether or not the organization is a 501(c)(3) as donations to these specific organizations are tax-deductible
- Utilize additional research resources including websites such as GuideStar.org, FTC.gov and IRS.gov.
For more information or to file a complaint please visit NMDOJ.gov/Charities. For additional questions, please email [email protected].
