Despite the lingering aftershocks of the recession, Americans have continued to be generous. Extremely generous.
In fact, the Center of Philanthropy at the University of Indiana at Purdue estimated that Americans gave to the tune of $298.4 billion in 2011. However, trust has soured between givers and the organizations they support because of allegations of mismanagement of funds and other factors.
Recently, the news came out that Lance Armstrong is stepping down from his wildly successful cancer research and support organization, Live Strong, amid allegations of doping and cheating in the sport. This news follows closely on the heels of Wyclef Jean’s Yele foundation, which aids the people of his native Haiti. It’s hard to always know where exactly your money is going, but here’s what you should do, should you suspect suspicious activity.