Donor Education

Donor Guide: Give With Clarity

Practical steps and questions to use before you send money to any NGO, charity, or relief project — especially when giving across borders.

Before you give

Many donors want to help quickly when a need is urgent. Taking a short pause to verify basic facts can protect you, the organization, and the people you intend to support.

  1. 1

    Confirm who you are giving to

    Ask for the organization’s legal name, leadership, registered address, and official website or social channels. Be cautious if only a personal account or informal messaging group is provided.

  2. 2

    Use official contact channels

    Contact the organization through its listed email, phone, or website — not only through a third party. For Hope Verify International, use info@hopeverifyinternational.org or our contact page.

  3. 3

    Ask what the gift will support

    Request a clear description of the program, beneficiaries, timeline, and how funds will be managed and reported.

  4. 4

    Verify bank details before transferring

    Confirm account name, number, and beneficiary details through an official reply — not only a message forwarded by someone else. This applies when giving to any organization, including support for HVI’s work on our Give page.

  5. 5

    Check what has actually been verified

    Search our NGO Directory and Transparency Center for published listings. If an organization is not listed, you may contact us to ask about a review before giving.

Questions worth asking any NGO

  • What is your legal registration status?
  • Who serves on your board or leadership team?
  • Can you share recent program or financial reports?
  • How do you track and report use of donor funds?
  • What is the specific need this gift will address?
  • Who are the intended beneficiaries?
  • Can you provide references or field documentation?
  • What happens if the project scope changes?

Warning signs to take seriously

Pressure or secrecy

Urgent demands to send money immediately, requests to avoid written records, or instructions to use unofficial transfer routes.

Unclear identity

No consistent legal name, missing leadership information, or contact details that do not match the organization’s public presence.

Unverifiable claims

Strong impact statements with no documentation, photos, reports, or third-party references that can be reviewed.

Account detail changes

Bank or wallet details that change without explanation, or requests to send funds to a personal account unrelated to the organization.

How Hope Verify International can help

Directory research

Browse published organization listings and status notes in our directory when available.

Donor inquiry

Ask us about an organization before you give. Use our contact form and select Donor Inquiry.

Learn from examples

Read our educational case study examples and review process to understand what responsible verification looks like.

Ready to take the next step?

Contact us through official channels. We typically respond within 24–48 working hours.

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