BATON ROUGE, LA – After Sunday’s senseless tragedy, many Louisiana residents and businesses are looking for ways to help – like donating to charities and relief funds. Attorney General Jeff Landry wants to ensure those contributions truly support the officers and families impacted.
“We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from our State, across our Nation, and around the world,” said General Landry. “To ensure their donations actually reach those they intend to help, we are urging contributors to use their best judgment and take some simple precautions.”
If you are making a charitable donation to support the fallen or wounded officers and their families, consider these tips:
- Donate to charities you know and trust. Give to organizations with proven track records and always ask what percentage of your donation will go directly to those in need. Look for American-based organizations to be 501(c)(3) certified by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.
- Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight. Avoid “look alike” websites resembling legitimate charitable organizations or law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
- Do not assume that charity posts on social media are legitimate. Research the “charitable organization.”
- Never send cash. Make donations by check or by credit card, both for security and tax purposes.
- Reject high-pressure appeals. Legitimate charities will give consumers time to consider their gifts and to research the organization to which they are donating.
The following fundraising accounts have already been vetted by the Louisiana Department of Justice (*** Please note that the information is not a comprehensive list of the organizations doing important work and that updates will be made as they become available. ***):
East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office
“Deputy Brad Garafola Memorial Fund”
“Corporal Nicholas Tullier First Responder Fund”
“Sergeant Bruce Simmons First Responder Fund”
“We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from our State, across our Nation, and around the world,” said General Landry. “To ensure their donations actually reach those they intend to help, we are urging contributors to use their best judgment and take some simple precautions.”
If you are making a charitable donation to support the fallen or wounded officers and their families, consider these tips:
- Donate to charities you know and trust. Give to organizations with proven track records and always ask what percentage of your donation will go directly to those in need. Look for American-based organizations to be 501(c)(3) certified by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.
- Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight. Avoid “look alike” websites resembling legitimate charitable organizations or law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
- Do not assume that charity posts on social media are legitimate. Research the “charitable organization.”
- Never send cash. Make donations by check or by credit card, both for security and tax purposes.
- Reject high-pressure appeals. Legitimate charities will give consumers time to consider their gifts and to research the organization to which they are donating.
The following fundraising accounts have already been vetted by the Louisiana Department of Justice (*** Please note that the information is not a comprehensive list of the organizations doing important work and that updates will be made as they become available. ***):
East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office
“Deputy Brad Garafola Memorial Fund”
“Corporal Nicholas Tullier First Responder Fund”
“Sergeant Bruce Simmons First Responder Fund”
Mail to: EBRSO, “fund name”, P.O. Box 3277, ATTN: Finance Office, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
The families of the fallen or injured receive 100% of funds donated.
Baton Rouge Police Union
“Our Fallen Heroes Fund”
Capital One Bank
The families of the fallen receive 100% of funds donated.
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
"EBR First Responders Fund"
Mail to: BRAF, 100 North Street, Suite 900, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Contribute online: www.braf.org/ebrfirstresponders
If funds are donated online or by credit/debit card, 4.5% of the funds are taken for transaction fees. Checks are fully deposited and the fund pays a 1% annual fee. All contributions to the fund are tax deductible. The amount of the grant disbursements would be decided by a board overseen by East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, Batn Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie Jr., Baton Rouge Fire Chief Ed Smith, and Louisiana State Police Major Mike Noel.
GOFUNDME
“Officer Matt Gerald” by Jaylan Gerald
“Montrell Jackson-Fallen Hero Fund” by Lauren Rose
“Support for the Garafola Family” by James Cooper
“Matthew Gerald Fallen Brother” by Nick Lambert
Up to 7.9% of the funds collected are retained as fees.
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To report a scam or learn more consumer tips, call Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889.