BBB Charity Standards Revision Project: Background & Objectives

BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB's Give.org) and its predecessor organizations have been reporting on charities for over a century. In 2003, the BBB Charity Standards were updated with significant input from the charitable community, private foundations, fundraisers, BBBs, donors, and other philanthropic experts. The resulting 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability address charity governance, finances, measuring effectiveness (e.g., results or impact reporting), and fundraising and informational materials. A detailed description and implementation guidance on each of the 20 standards is accessible on our website, Give.org.

BBB charity reporting seeks to strengthen public confidence in charities by promoting wise giving and trustworthy charity practices. These charity accountability assessments are completed, at no charge to the subject charity. BBB’s Give.org produces reports that specify if the charity meets the referenced standards. It also does not make judgments on the worthiness of a charity’s mission or programs. 

BBB’s Give.org standards-based evaluative reports are grounded in direct engagement with charities. Our process goes beyond publicly available data to include, when applicable, voluntarily submitted audited financial statements, governance information, fundraising materials, and other documentation. This in-depth, interactive approach produces evaluations that help donors make wise giving choices while aiding in developing charity accountability and trust. 

Project Objectives

The BBB Charity Standards Revision Project reflects a commitment by BBB's Give.org to continue to be responsive to the evolving charitable sector as well as the needs and concerns of donors, charitable partners and others in the sector. It builds on how a standards-based evaluative process can continue to support ethical charity practices, accountability and transparency to strengthen trust.

The BBB Charity Standards Revision Project seeks to produce a new version of the BBB Charity Standards that incorporates the following objectives:

• Create a more streamlined set of standards.
• Continue to incorporate the fundamental accountability concepts of transparency, oversight, accuracy, respect, and integrity.
• Recognize that both charities and donors benefit from a trusted charitable marketplace.
• Maintain and strengthen a BBB charity reporting process that incorporates fairness and due process.

Charitable Sector Input

BBB’s Give.org has appointed a panel of advisors from charities and other experts in philanthropy to update how the BBB Charity Standards address fundamental areas such as board oversight, finances, appeal accuracy and transparency.

Additional expertise will be sought out to advise the Committee on existing and emerging accountability issues.

Project Timeline

BBB’s Give.org estimates that during the first quarter of 2026, it will seek to release a draft version of these guidelines for input from charities, donors, foundations, and others in philanthropy.

This input will be reviewed to produce a final version of the revised BBB Charity Standards along with a timeframe for implementation and application.

Share Your Feedback

We welcome your input. Whether you're a charity staff member, donor, foundation representative, fundraiser, regulator or another stakeholder, your voice matters. Use this form to share your thoughts on the current BBB Charity Standards or suggest new areas to consider in our revision process.

Share your feedback here.