Florida charities can be checked before donating

Florida has a big heart after storms, fires, accidents, and local hardships. That kindness deserves a little paperwork check.

FDACS has a Check-A-Charity tool for groups that ask for donations in Florida. Registration is not a personal endorsement. It also does not tell you the whole character of a group. It does help you slow down before giving money to a name from a text, flyer, social post, or parking-lot talk.

Before donating, search the group name. Compare the website, address, and phone number. Watch for copycat names. If a fundraiser is local, ask who gets the money and how it is handled.

This helps after a hurricane, when people want to move fast. A real charity should be able to handle a polite question and a short pause while you check the record.

If the gift is large, take one more minute. Search the exact name, not just the friendly name on the flyer.