To accept donations that are deductible as charitable contributions, an organization must be a church, government organization or have received a ruling from the IRS. Those who have received such a ruling from the IRS are listed in IRS Publication 78.
So, if a group is asking you to make a charitable donation and it’s not a church or government organization — it should be listed in Publication 78.
Organization names are often similar. Obtaining its employer identification number (EIN) can help you be sure you’re focused on the right organization.
With its correct name and/or its EIN, you can check it out. If the group isn’t listed in Publication 78, STOP. There are other places for you to be generous — don’t do it with this organization.