Before You Donate, Check for Recurring Charges

Many people are receiving an increase in fundraising requests tied to the 2026 election cycle. If you choose to make a donation, it’s important to review the details carefully before submitting payment. Consumer advocates continue to warn about recurring donation practices that can be easy to miss, especially for older adults. In some cases, donors have unknowingly enrolled in automatic recurring contributions after overlooking small disclosures or pre-selected checkboxes during the donation process. 

Investigations in recent election cycles found that fundraising platforms across the political spectrum processed large numbers of disputed recurring charges, including complaints from older adults and caregivers managing finances for loved ones with cognitive decline. 

While some states have introduced restrictions on pre-checked recurring donation settings, these practices remain legal in many parts of the country. That makes it especially important to slow down and carefully review donation terms before contributing online. 

How recurring donations work 

Many organizations offer donors the option to turn a one-time contribution into an ongoing monthly or weekly donation. Recurring giving can be legitimate and helpful when donors knowingly choose it.

Problems can arise, however, when donation platforms make recurring contributions difficult to spot. Some websites use pre-checked boxes or confusing language that automatically enroll donors in repeat charges unless the donor notices and opts out.

In many cases, people don’t realize they signed up for recurring payments until they begin seeing repeated charges on their bank or credit card statements weeks or months later.

Donation platforms and fundraising pages vary widely in how they present recurring options, which is why it’s safest to assume any online donation form could include automatic renewal language or pre-selected settings.

How to protect yourself before donating

Before submitting a donation online, by mail, or over the phone:

• Carefully review the full donation form before clicking submit
• Look for any boxes or language authorizing recurring contributions
• Confirm whether the donation is listed as “one-time” or “monthly”
• Be cautious of urgent messages pressuring immediate action
• Review the final confirmation screen and email receipt carefully
• Use a credit card when possible

If donating over the phone, ask the representative to confirm:

• The exact amount being charged
• Whether the contribution is one-time or recurring
• How frequently future charges would occur, if applicable

Monitor accounts after donating

After making a donation, continue monitoring your bank and credit card accounts for unexpected repeat charges.

Recurring charges can sometimes continue unnoticed for months, particularly when they are small or occur frequently. Reviewing statements regularly can help catch unauthorized or unintended payments early.

Carefull can also help monitor for recurring charges, unusual account activity, and other signs of fraud or financial mistakes — making it easier to identify issues before they become costly.

What to do if you discover unintended recurring charges

If you realize you’ve been enrolled in recurring donations you did not intend to authorize:

1. Contact the organization or fundraising platform immediately
2. Request cancellation of future payments
3. Ask for a refund for unauthorized charges
4. Save all emails or confirmation notices documenting the cancellation
5. Continue monitoring your accounts to ensure charges stop

If charges continue after cancellation, contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the transactions and block future payments if necessary.

If you believe a fundraising request was fraudulent or deceptive, report it to:

• Your state attorney general’s office
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Fraud Reporting Site
• Your state charity regulator, if applicable

A few extra moments of review before donating can help ensure your contribution goes where you intended and only as often as you intended.

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