Make giving decisions based on facts, not rumors

 12/16/2015

Updated 2/2019

We believe you really should “think before you donate,” at any time of the year.

You should want to make an informed decision about which charitable causes you wish to support. To do that, you should also have the right information — not misinformation.

Unfortunately, individuals and groups sometimes misrepresent to the public widely-known charities and nonprofits, including Goodwill. Even well-meaning people unintentionally spread erroneous statements.

Like the one about “Goodwill CEO Mark Curran, who profits $2.3 million a year.” This false claim is from a 12-year-old email that is still circulating. It includes variations on the message “Think about these before you donate.”

Steven Preston is the CEO of Goodwill Industries International. Learn more about him here. Also, Goodwill is a network of 160 independent member organizations, each with its own leadership.

Note: Article still lists former CEO Jim Gibbons who resigned from the position in 2018.

 At Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, Inc., your donations allow us to have a meaningful impact on our community. Learn how here. Read success stories of people who have benefited from our job training and employment services, and find complete financial information in our annual report.

So, yes, we encourage you to “think before you donate” — the one legitimate takeaway from that otherwise spurious email.

More

Be certain the organization you choose uses its revenue for charitable purposes that support a mission for which you have a passion. Here are a couple resources:

• GuideStar
• Charity Navigator
  

Don't fall for holiday scams.

And, please share this with anyone you think could use this information.