Charity • Practise safer giving through three key steps

We would like to thank writers Ang Ah Lay and Lee Yim May for their respective letters (Ensure that all-cash donations find their way to charity, Dec 24; and No donation? Volunteers happy to just share about the charity, Dec 25).

- Desmond Chin

Charities use different methods to raise funds for their charitable causes, for example, by directly soliciting funds or raising awareness of their charitable work to gain support from members of the public.

Donors can ensure their contributions go to legitimate causes by practising the three steps of "Ask, Check, Give" before donating:

• Ask questions such as who the beneficiary is, what their donations will be used for, and how they can receive updates about the beneficiary.