Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna are teaming up to urge Washingtonians to make wise choices with their holiday gifts to charity and avoid greedy fundraising groups.

Reed and McKenna joined forces at the Senior Services Lillian Rice Center in downtown Seattle, releasing the 2012 Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report and announcing that the report will be updated weekly “in real time” to keep donors well-informed. The two statewide officials also shared tips for everyone – young and old – on how to give wisely.

Overall this year, charities that used commercial fundraisers received an average of 46 percent of contributions, a drop from the 56 percent mark in the 2011 report and much lower than the 77 percent reported in 2010. Once again, the percentage that individual fundraisers retained was wide-ranging: Some fundraisers kept less than 10 percent and sent the remaining funds to charity, while other fundraisers’ fees and expenses were more than the amount raised.

The report, compiled by the Secretary of State’s Charities Program, spotlights recent financial information for commercial fundraisers who solicit or collect donations on behalf of their charity clients. The causes vary widely and include police, firefighter and veteran organizations, medical research, animals, civil liberties, and the environment, to name a few.

Seniors 65 and older – a group that makes up about 13 percent of Washington’s population – are especially targeted by solicitors, and thus should be very careful and research where their donations are going, the two state officials cautioned.

Said Reed:

“I’ve been so impressed with the generosity of Washington residents over the years,” Reed said. “So many people here give money to help those who are struggling in our state or elsewhere. We know that individuals will want to donate money this holiday season and beyond to help others, but we also know that they can get burned by not doing their homework before giving to a charity.

“That’s why we want to make sure donors are well-informed about where their money is going. We want contributors – regardless of age – to know which commercial fundraising groups have a bad track record when it comes to passing on donated money to the intended charities.”

McKenna, whose office deals with consumer protection, said:

“People should always contact charitable organizations in your community and ask how they spend donations to ensure you are truly helping those you wish to help.  Never be afraid to ask how much of your donation will go to the charitable purpose. It’s your money.”

The report, which has been released annually since 1995, has been revamped so it now is updated on a weekly basis. Consumers will be able to run their own reports in real time and get current registration information on commercial fundraisers, the state officials announced.

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The information in the report is from the commercial fundraiser’s registration on file with the Secretary of State. It is not confirmed or verified by the Charities Program.

There are currently 10,041 charities registered in Washington State. Of those, 712 report using commercial fundraising services.

Each month hundreds of people use Reed’s online charities search at http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search.aspx to get instant financial histories and other information on fundraisers and charities. Consumers can also call toll-free 1-800-332-4483.

Those who believe they are victims of charity fraud should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays at 1-800-551-4636 or file a complaint online at www.atg.wa.gov .