June 5, 2026
Reader
Last week I was on the phone with a good friend — the kind of call where you look up and realize an hour has disappeared. We covered the things that matter - kids, grandkids, what we're reading, what's been filling our days. And somehow, the way those conversations do, we drifted into something I didn't expect. We both admitted we'd been running ourselves a little ragged with charity and volunteer work. Not complaining — we chose this. But there's something worth saying out loud: when a cause finds a doer, they do not let go.
That led us to a question neither of us had really sat with before. How do you know if the charity you're giving your time and money to is actually worthy of it?
That conversation sent me straight down a rabbit hole — and I came up with a five-step framework I wish I'd had years ago.
A little context: my cause is Breakthrough T1D. My daughter has been living with Type 1 diabetes since she was 19. I didn't choose that charity through a spreadsheet — it has a face and a name in my family. But even I, with nearly thirty years in finance, had never really done the deep homework on giving well. This post changed that.
Here are three things that surprised me most:
There's a free CFO-level due diligence kit — and most donors never use it. Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and CharityWatch are all free, and together they'll tell you a charity's star rating, financial transparency, and exactly how much of your dollar reaches actual programs versus overhead. I ran Breakthrough T1D through all three. Spoiler: four stars, Platinum transparency seal, A– grade. I feel better about every check I've written.
The Form 990 isn't as scary as it sounds. Every nonprofit files one with the IRS, and it's publicly available. You only need four numbers — and I walk you through exactly which ones and what to look for in my Blog Post.
Charity scams specifically target older donors. I didn't love writing that sentence, but it's true. There's a whole section in the post on red flags, lookalike charity names, and a thirty-second IRS check that tells you whether a 501(c)(3) is even legitimate.
Your generosity and your due diligence aren't opposites. Vetting a charity doesn't make your giving less heartfelt — it makes it more powerful. Enjoy this Post:
How to Vet a Charity Before You Donate
Warmly,
Wendy
Founder OverSixtyInsights
Looking for more reading: OverSixtyInsights.com
Quote for the Day:
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." — Winston Churchill
Other Blog Posts:
REITs for Retirement Income
Getting Fit After 60
Hidden Medicare Costs in Retirement: What to Expect at 65
One Small Favor
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Books I'm Reading
From Strength to Strength - Arthur Brooks
The Meaning of Your Life - Arthur C. Brooks
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