How to Choose a Trustworthy Charity: A 8-Point Checklist

Choosing a trustworthy charity is the first and most important step in making sure your donation really reaches people in need.

We see a new campaign on social media every day. In this guide we list 8 criteria you can check in a few minutes before donating from Austria.

How can you recognise a trustworthy charity? 8 criteria

None of the following criteria is enough on its own. But taken together, they allow you to make a sound judgement about an organisation.

1. Official registration: ZVR number and Vereinsregister

In Austria, associations are registered in the Zentrales Vereinsregister (Central Register of Associations), and every association has a ZVR number.

With this number you can check free of charge, via the online Vereinsregister search, whether the association really exists, along with its name, address and representatives.

General information on associations is available on the associations page of the Ministry of the Interior (BMI).

• Good sign: the organisation gives its ZVR number straight away when asked.
• Bad sign: large sums being collected with the claim “We are a volunteer group, we are not registered”.

2. Clear contact details

A trustworthy organisation clearly states its physical address, phone number and official e-mail address.

Be careful with campaigns that communicate only through an Instagram account or a single messaging number. Try a test: ask a question and see how, and how quickly, you get an answer.

3. Transparency: who runs it and where does it work?

The organisation's board, founding year and the countries it works in should be clearly shown on its website.

Project prices should also be transparent: you should be able to see in advance how much a Qurbani, a water well or an orphan sponsorship costs.

4. Receipt and written confirmation

After every donation you should receive written confirmation: the date and amount of the donation and which project it goes to.

Handing over cash without receiving any document is risky for both your records and the organisation's.

5. Secure payment methods

Only enter your card details on secure (https) payment pages. Organisations that take payments through well-known payment providers do not store your card data on their own servers.

Be particularly careful with the following requests:

• Sending the donation to a personal bank account or in the name of an individual.
• Being asked to donate by gift card, voucher code or cryptocurrency.
• Sending money directly to a person abroad via money transfer services.

6. Reporting: photos, videos and feedback

You have a right to see the result of your donation. Trustworthy organisations give donors feedback on Qurbani slaughter, aid distribution or project handover.

But be realistic: a personal video is not possible for every project. What matters is that the organisation states clearly in advance what it reports on and how.

7. Realistic promises

Exaggerated promises such as “your whole donation arrives” or “delivered tomorrow” should raise suspicion. All aid work involves logistics, transport and field costs.

An honest organisation openly explains its processes and limitations.

8. Beware of fake donation campaigns

Fake campaigns increase after disasters and wars, and also during Ramadan and around Eid al-Adha. Some warning signs:

• Time pressure: messages such as “Only 2 hours left!” or “If you don't send it now…”.
• Imitating a well-known organisation: a similar logo, a domain name with a letter changed.
• Images taken from elsewhere: a reverse image search online may turn up old photos.
• Donation links sent by private message: instead of clicking the link, type in the organisation's address yourself.

You can follow current warnings about online fraud in Austria on the Watchlist Internet website.

Additional criteria for Zakat and Qurbani

When fulfilling a religious obligation, it is not enough for the organisation to be trustworthy; the donation must also be used in line with the religious requirements.

• Is Zakat handled separately? Zakat is given to the categories listed in verse 60 of Surah at-Tawbah. Make sure the organisation accepts Zakat as a separate project.
• Is a proxy (wakalah) taken for Qurbani? On whose behalf the Qurbani will be slaughtered should be asked at the time of donation.
• Can the type of Qurbani be specified? It is important that the intention, such as Wajib, Nadhr, Aqiqah or Shukr Qurbani, is recorded.
• Does Fitrah arrive on time? Fitrah must be delivered before the Eid prayer.

For religious questions, you can refer to the views of the Diyanet (Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs) or consult an imam. More on the topic: Qurbani by proxy and Qurbani donations from Austria 2027.

What should you expect after donating?

A trustworthy organisation stays in touch with you after your donation. Reasonable expectations are:

1. Immediately: an e-mail confirming that your donation has been received.
2. Once the payment is confirmed: a receipt showing the amount and date.
3. Once the project is complete: a video, photos or an update, depending on the type of project.
4. When you ask a question: a clear answer within a reasonable time.

If any of these is missing, ask the organisation in writing. A clear and courteous reply is the best sign of trustworthiness.

Tax benefits: the BMF list is a separate check

An organisation being trustworthy is not the same as a donation being tax-deductible.

For a donation to be tax-deductible in Austria, the organisation must be on the BMF list of spendenbegünstigte Einrichtungen (tax-privileged organisations). Newly founded associations may not be on this list in their first years because of the application requirements.

For details, read our guide Tax-deductible donations in Austria.

How does Austria Yetim Eli meet these criteria?

We apply our own criteria to ourselves too. Below we list only verifiable information; for anything else, please ask us.

Criterion	Austria Yetim Eli
Official registration	Association founded in 2026 in Innsbruck under Austrian association law. You can ask us for our ZVR number and check it in the Vereinsregister.
Contact	Salurnerstraße 1, 6020 Innsbruck · +43 676 520 35 35 (phone/WhatsApp) · info@austriayetimeli.at
Transparency	Our board, countries of operation and all project prices are openly available on the website.
Receipt	A thank-you e-mail after donating, and a receipt e-mail once the payment is confirmed.
Secure payment	Card / Online (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, EPS) and PayPal; card details are entered on the payment provider's secure page. For bank transfers: our bank accounts.
Reporting	For Qurbani, a slaughter video (Türkiye: via WhatsApp, other regions: via SMS); for clothing orphans, photos showing the donor's name via SMS; for iftars of 100+ people, a video.
Team	The founding team consists of volunteers who previously gained field experience with other humanitarian aid organisations.
Tax status	Check the current status on the BMF list; you are welcome to ask us about our association's status.

Examples of transparent prices

• Monthly orphan sponsorship: 50 €/month (6 months 300 €, yearly 600 €).
• Small-animal Qurbani in Africa: 100 €; Türkiye: 250 €.
• Hand-pump water well: from 500 € in Asia.
• Fitrah: 15 € per person; iftar: 3,50 € per person.

What to look for in projects abroad

Most donations from Austria go to projects in Africa, Asia or the Middle East. In that case it is worth asking a few extra questions:

• Which countries does it work in? The countries of operation should be clearly listed on the website, like our countries we work in page.
• Why does the price vary by country? A Qurbani costing 100 € in Africa and 250 € in Türkiye reflects differences in animal prices, transport and local conditions. The organisation should be able to explain this difference.
• Is it possible to contribute a share? For large projects such as water wells or mosques, the option to take part with small amounts makes giving accessible to everyone.

If you are interested in water projects, see our water well donation guide; for regular support of orphans, see our article on orphan sponsorship.

2-minute checklist before donating

1. I asked for the ZVR number and checked it in the Vereinsregister.
2. The address, phone number and e-mail are clear; I received an answer to my question.
3. The project price and the way it will be reported are clear in advance.
4. The payment page is secure; no payment to a personal account is requested.
5. I will receive written confirmation and a receipt after donating.
6. If I want a tax benefit, I have checked the BMF list.

If you are giving Zakat, also check that it reaches the right people: who can receive Zakat. For the online process, see giving Zakat online; for information specific to your city, take a look at our guides Innsbruck and Tyrol and Zakat and Qurbani donations from Vienna.

Sources: BMI — Vereinsregisterauszug · BMI — Vereinswesen · BMF — Liste begünstigter Spendenempfänger · Watchlist Internet