12 charitable groups that would love to take your
tax-deductible Typhoon Haiyan relief donations

Super Typhoon Haiyan has done its worst, literally, to the Philippines.

The archipelago nation took a direct hit from what many meteorologists are characterizing as the most powerful typhoon ever. Towns have been destroyed and it's feared that 10,000 or more could be dead.

"It is too early to tell what exactly we will need, but definitely after
the relief operations there is going to be a lot of work in terms of
reconstruction and rehabilitation, particularly for people who have lost
their homes," Jose Cuisia, Jr., the Philippines ambassador to the United States, told Voice of America.

United States relief agencies are heeding Cuisia's call. Organizations are asking the American public for donations to help their recovery efforts in the Philippines, as well as the preparations they are making for similar efforts likely to be needed after Haiyan hits Vietnam.

Remember, donations to U.S.-based nonprofits are the only ones for which you can claim a charitable tax donation.

U.S. organizations that are dedicating funds to the Philippines (and likely soon to other Asian countries that Haiyan threatens) include:

• UNICEF — Donate online or text the word RELIEF to 864233 to donate $10.
  

• CARE — Donate online or call 1-800-521-CARE (2273). If you're outside the United States, call 1-404-681-2552.

• World Vision — Donate online. You also can sponsor a child in the Philippines.

• American Red Cross — Donate online. If you prefer to mail a check, send it to your local American Red Cross chapter; be sure to
  designate "Philippines Typhoons and Flood" in the memo line.

• United Nations World Food Program USA — Donate online or text the word AID to 27722 to donate $10.

• AmeriCares
  — Donate online.

• Salvation Army — Donate online or text the word "TYPHOON" to 80888 to donate $10 and reply "YES" to confirm your
  donation.

• ChildFund International
  — Donate online.

• Save the Children
  — Donate online.

• Oxfam America — Donate online.

• Heifer — Donate online.

• Catholic Relief Services — Donate online or call 1-877-435-7277 or mail a check to P.O. Box 17090 in Baltimore, Md. 21297-0303.

Be wary of scams: Finally, be aware that scum are already out there trying to take advantage of this catastrophe. There are and will continue to be many new "charities" with the words Philippine Disaster or Typhoon in their names that will ask for donations.

Do not give to these groups.

A newly formed nonprofit for this disaster has not been vetted by the Internal Revenue Service. It takes weeks, months or more for organizations to get 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status approval from the IRS. Without that IRS imprimatur, your donations are not tax deductible.

True, a handful of newly formed groups might indeed send help to the disaster area. Even if that happens, however, you cannot deduct your gift if the group does not have its official nonprofit tax status when you give.

Sadly, however, most of these newly formed typhoon "charities" are scams. They are created by con artists looking to take advantage of tragedies, preying on your compassion and taking your well-intended money for their own selfish and illegal uses.

So check out every charity, either at the IRS' online nonprofit search tool or via private philanthropy trackers GuideStar and Charity Navigator, before making a Typhoon Haiyan or any donation.

You also might find these items of interest:

• Deductions demand documentation
• Volunteering is laudable, but not deductible
• Is Batman using charities to cheat on his taxes?