The wish to give is a fine thing — but it is also what makes donors vulnerable. Every year we hear from people who want to help and are not sure who to hand the money to. Those questions are the right ones, and we encourage them — including about us.
Here are seven checks you can make in a few minutes, before any donation.
1. Is there a registered charity number?
Every registered charity in Israel has a nine-digit number. It should appear on the website, on the receipt and in published material.
No number? That is not necessarily fraud — but it is the first reason to stop and ask.
2. Does it appear on GuideStar?
GuideStar is the Ministry of Justice's register of corporations, not a marketing site. You can look up any charity by name or number and see the official registration, filings and status.
It is the strongest check available, and it is free. If a charity does not appear there, that is a red flag.
At Yamim Tovim Ashdod the charity number is 580837102, and you can look us up there exactly as you would anyone else.
3. Is there a certificate of proper management?
The Registrar of Associations issues a "certificate of proper management" to charities that meet the reporting requirements. Many public bodies will not transfer money to a charity without one.
New charities are not yet able to obtain it, so its absence is not necessarily a bad sign — but it is worth asking about directly.
4. Is it clear what the charity actually does?
"We help those in need" is not an answer. A good answer sounds like: how many people, in which area, how often, and what exactly they receive.
If after five minutes on the website you still cannot tell what happens on the ground, that is information in itself.
5. Can you reach a human being?
A phone that is answered, an address, a named contact. A charity you can talk to is a charity you can check. If the only channel is an anonymous form, be careful.
6. What does the giving process look like?
- Is the page secure (https and a padlock in the browser)?
- Does payment go through a recognised payment provider?
- Do you get a receipt automatically?
- Is it clear whether this is a one-off gift or a standing order?
Never give card details over the phone to someone who called you out of the blue. It is the most common fraud in this field.
7. Is there Section 46 approval?
Approval under Section 46 of the Income Tax Ordinance entitles you to a tax credit on the donation. Not every worthy charity holds it — it requires a track record and further conditions — but where it exists, it is worth using.
And if you want to see where a donation actually ends up, read why giving matters — and where the money goes.
Warning signs
- Pressure and urgency — "today only", "two hours left". A real organisation will wait while you check.
- A request for cash or a transfer to a private account. A donation goes to the charity's account, not a person's.
- Photographs without context — sad images with no name, place or story.
- Refusal to give a charity number.
And finally — give to something you understand
It is best to give somewhere you can see, visit and understand. A local charity working in your own town is usually a safer bet than a campaign that arrived in an advert.
If you are in Ashdod and would like to see what we do close up, talk to us — you are welcome. You can also read about what we do, volunteer, or give if we have convinced you.