Once a disaster strikes or a community faces hardship, online appeals for help can appear within hours. Crowdfunding pages, social media posts and messaging app forwards make it easy to give, but they also make it easy for misleading or poorly managed campaigns to spread. Whether you are supporting an overseas emergency or a local appeal for relief in SG, taking a few minutes to check a campaign before donating helps ensure your contribution reaches the people it is meant for.
Who Is Behind the Campaign
The first step is to find out who is organising the appeal and whether they can be identified. Before giving, look for details like these:
- The full name of the organisation or individual running the campaign.
- Contact information, such as a registered address, phone number or official email.
- A track record of previous appeals or community work.
- Consistent organiser names across every page and post sharing the appeal.
- Clear links between the campaign and the organisation’s official website or social media accounts.
Registration and Oversight
Registered charities are subject to reporting and governance requirements, which gives donors added assurance. In Singapore, you can usually check a charity’s status through the official Charity Portal, and it helps to confirm points such as these:
- Whether the organisation is a registered charity or an Institution of a Public Character.
- The charity’s registration number, which should match the details on the campaign.
- Whether annual reports and financial statements are publicly available.
- If an individual is fundraising, whether they are working with a registered charity.
- Whether the charity’s stated objectives match the purpose of the campaign.
Religious and Cultural Considerations
Some donors have specific requirements for how their giving is managed. That said, for anyone making a Muslim donation in Singapore, such as zakat, sadaqah or fidyah, it is worth checking that the campaign can meet those requirements, including details like these:
- Whether the organisation is recognised by or works with the relevant religious authority, such as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.
- Whether zakat funds are kept separate and distributed to eligible recipients.
- Clear explanations of how religious obligations will be fulfilled.
- Receipts that identify the type of contribution made.
How the Funds Will Be Used
A credible campaign explains what it plans to do with the money it raises. Look for clear information about points like these:
- The specific cause, location and group of people the appeal will help.
- How funds will be spent, such as food, shelter, medical supplies or rebuilding.
- Whether there is a fundraising target and a deadline.
- How any money raised beyond the target will be handled.
The Platform Hosting the Appeal
Where a campaign is hosted can also indicate how much oversight it receives. When reviewing the platform, consider the following:
- Whether the platform verifies campaign organisers before appeals go live.
- How the platform handles complaints or reports of suspicious campaigns.
- Whether donations are processed through secure, traceable payment channels.
- Policies on refunds if a campaign is found to be misleading.
- Any platform fees that reduce the amount reaching the cause.
Signs a Campaign May Not Be Credible
Some features of an appeal should prompt extra caution. Be wary of campaigns that show signs such as these:
- Pressure to give immediately, with little information provided.
- Requests for payment through personal bank transfers or gift cards.
- Images that appear copied from news sites or unrelated events.
- Organisers who refuse to answer questions about how funds are used.
- Spelling errors, vague stories or details that change over time.
- No updates on progress once funds have been raised.
Giving With Confidence
Most online appeals are made in good faith, but a little research helps protect both donors and the people in need. Checking who is behind a campaign, how funds will be used and whether the organisation is registered can help your generosity have the impact you intend.
Contact Global Ehsan Relief to see how your donation supports our current relief efforts.
