Category: Wise Giving Wednesday

Wise Giving Wednesday: Charities and Data Privacy Day
January 28, 2016 is Data Privacy Day which commemorates the signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Although this day has been recognized in the U.S. and Canada since 2008 and in Mexico since 2015, most donors probably don’t associate this data issue with charities. Contributors might be thinking of online retail credit card security, medical office records, or banking information. The reality is that data privacy is relevant to all websites, including those of charitable organizations. Charity websites can collect data not only through online donation collections but also through online message exchanges with visitors, electronic newsletter distributions, and online sales of books or other items.

In fact, respecting online privacy and safeguarding data are key elements in helping to verify charity trustworthiness. That’s why they are addressed in Standard 18(b) which calls for all charity websites to have a privacy policy that addresses the four fundamental privacy concepts of notice, access, choice and security. To learn more about this standard and how it is applied view the text and explanations of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability and see one of our previous Wise Giving Wednesday previous blogs that talks about this standard.

I also want to call your attention to a recording of a panel discussion, “ Cybersecurity Planning for Nonprofit Leaders” presented by the BBB Foundation of Metropolitan New York. There is no cost to access the video, which includes, among others, experts from IBM Corporation, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey.

Finally, BBB has a special website that, although focused on business cybersecurity, includes helpful suggestions that charities can adopt as well – a 5-step approach to cybersecurity that calls for such things as taking inventory of key technologies being used, assessing what protective measures you need and can afford and placing measures in place to alert you to current and imminent threats.

On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are pleased to provide a video that features Johannah Barry, President of the Galapagos Conservancy (a BBB Accredited Charity). The Conservancy is a United States based organization that works to conserve marine and terrestrial ecosystems and their flora and fauna in the Galapagos Islands.

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These events, which have taken place for several decades, have helped raise funds for numerous charities seeking to address breast cancer in a variety of ways: through medical research, assistance in treatment and prevention education activities. When contributing, take the time to learn about the various ways charities work to address this important cause. The name alone won’t always reveal what the organization does.

One very popular means of raising funds during this awareness month is through cause-related marketing. This is when a promotion announces that the purchase of a good or service is assisting breast cancer organizations. If so, see if the ad mentions the specific charity that will be helped. Also, BBB Charity Standard 19 calls for such promotions to disclose, at the point of appeal, the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity, and if applicable, the duration of the campaign and any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount. For example, “5 cents for every abc product sold in October will go to xyz charity up to a maximum of $100,000.” Be wary of promotions that state breast cancer charities will be assisted but are not very transparent about specifics.

To help identify trustworthy breast cancer organizations, we encourage donors not only to be mindful of BBB Charity Standard 19. Visit Give.org to find out if the charity meets all of the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video that features Ellen Willmott, Interim CEO of Susan G. Komen (a BBB Accredited Charity), whose mission is to end breast cancer through funding research. In addition, the organization offers assistance to those facing the disease by funding screenings, education, and treatment and support programs.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Sexual Harassment and Charities
On Monday, we released the Give.org Donor Trust Special Report: Sexual Harassment and the Charitable Sector. The report provides the results of a survey of 2,100 adults across the United States and more than 1,000 adults in Canada, exploring how donors react to allegations of sexual harassment involving a charity or house of worship. As featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, survey findings confirmed that donors care about this issue, with 22% of donors who heard such allegations reporting that they no longer contribute to the organization and another 17% reporting a reduction of support.

Donors who maintained support for a specific charity or house of worship after learning about sexual harassment allegations most frequently stated that “the actions of a few bad actors do not represent the organization as a whole” as the reason to continue giving. But, while sexual harassment can occur at any organization, well-governed charities can build cultures that do not tolerate sexual harassment, be prepared to react in a timely and appropriate fashion, and openly communicate with their donors about any issues and solutions. Also, it appears that many donors are willing to resume support for the charity or house of worship after proper corrective actions are taken. When asked about the hypothetical example of a charity taking action to address a sexual harassment problem, 38% of U.S. participants say they would resume normal levels of support as soon as they believe the charity reacted appropriately.

As an issue of good governance, charities must strengthen their cultures so that sexual harassment is clearly understood and never tolerated, and they must be prepared to react in a timely and appropriate fashion. To maintain donor trust, charities should also be prepared to openly communicate with their donors about the issues and any implemented solutions.

Video of the Week

This week, we are featuring an interview with Alice Thomas, Executive Director of Central Asia Institute (a BBB Accredited Charity) where she discusses the goals of the organization and challenges it faces including those caused by the pandemic.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Diversity in Donor Trust and Giving
The ability of charitable organizations to thrive in the future is closely tied to their ability to understand how rising, and more diverse, generations think about trust, engagement and generosity. The recently released, Give.org Donor Trust Report, an in-depth look into the state of trust in the charitable sector, also identified differences, by race, in donor perceptions about trust in charities, and giving in general. This edition of Wise Giving Wednesday will highlight some of these statistics and note how this information might be used to help further strengthen trust and grow giving.
Openness to solicitation. Racial minorities expressed a desire to increase their contributions. When asked if they might be willing to give more if approached by charities, 31-34% of African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos and Asians said yes. In contrast, only 17% of White respondents said they would do so. This result suggests opportunities for charities for increased giving among potential minority donors.

Differences in highly trusted charities. In general, the Give.org Donor Trust Report shows that African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos are more trusting of charities than Whites and Asians. When asked to identify their degree of trust among 13 categories of charities, different racial groups placed a higher degree of trust in different types of charities. For example, Whites had a higher degree of trust (35%) in religious organizations than did minorities (28%.) In contrast, African American and Hispanic/Latino respondents had a high degree of trust in the two categories of youth development organizations and civil rights/community action organizations (19-25%) than did Whites and Asians (11-15%.)

Variances in signals of trust. The Give.org Donor Trust Report also revealed that different racial groups say they assess donor trust differently. For example, White respondents relied more heavily on third-party evaluations (47%) than did minorities (27-34%.) African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos and Asians said that appealing charity stories and the passion/sincerity of appeals had a greater trust influence (27-32%) than did White respondents (12-14%.)
We have created an infographic (available here) that provides greater detail on the above excerpts from the Give.org Donor Trust Report. During the holiday season, we are all encouraged to give to charities. The report results show there are opportunities to help increase trust in charities and to help educate the public about reliable trust signals to identify charities that have demonstrated good accountability practices, such as by visiting the evaluative reports on charities accessible on Give.org.

Video of the Week
We are pleased to provide a video of the week that features an interview with Aba Blankson, Vice President of Communications & Digital Media, NAACP (a BBB Accredited Charity.) Ms. Blankson comments on some of the findings in the Give.org Donor Trust Report.

Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Some Regional Charities Experiencing Giving Shortfalls
During the week of Thanksgiving, the Washington Post released a story explaining that a number of factors are impacting charitable contributions at regional charities: “a recent change in the tax code that disincentivized middle-class donations” and “the passing of older generations with more ingrained habit of giving.” While the Post story focused on experiences at local food banks in the Washington DC area, this unfortunate trend is being experienced by other groups as well.

The referenced U.S. tax code change that took place was featured in a previous Wise Giving Wednesday blog. The change consisted of increases in 2018 for the standard deduction to $12,000 per individual or $24,000 per couple which reduced the financial incentive since fewer households would itemize charitable donations on their tax returns. The November issue of the Chronicle of Philanthropy noted that some charities that raise money from middle and upper-middle class donors were seeing reductions in giving while other donors were taking a longer time to decide how much to give and when.

As the year draws to a close, BBB Wise Giving Alliance encourages donors to remember to support charities in their own communities, especially those that might be experiencing less generosity than usual. Those who are short of cash at this time of year, can still consider donating in-kind items such as non-perishable food, coats, toys and other items collected by organizations to distribute to those in need.

Please also take the time to visit Give.org to see if the charity of your choice meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Additional sources of information include the charity’s own website as well as the state government agency that registers charities in your state (usually a division of either the office of the Attorney General or Secretary of State).

Video of the Week

As part of the building trust video series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Ozzy Samad, President of Brother’s Brother Foundation (a BBB Accredited Charity), an organization that provides international health and education through the distribution of donated medical, educational and other resources around the world.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President and CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Charity Accountability and Terrorist Financing Issues
Last week, I was in Berlin, Germany participating in the Annual Meeting of the International Committee on Fundraising Organizations (ICFO) which is an international association of 18 national charity monitoring organizations. Their membership and supporters include standards-based charity evaluation organizations that report on charities in other countries as we do in the United States and other organizations addressing philanthropy. Each year a different member hosts the conference, we were proud to do this at our 2015 conference held in Washington, DC.

The meeting in Berlin, as in previous ICFO conferences, reminded me that charity accountability groups around the world recognize the value of a standards-based approach to reporting and face many of the same charity issues as we do at BBB Wise Giving Alliance. But there are new challenges as well which were featured in a series of presentations at this conference that discussed money laundering and terrorist financing and its impact on charities and monitoring organizations.

The Berlin conference included a discussion of the activities of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The United States, Canada and Mexico and other countries are members in FATF. They have developed a series of recommendations to help form a coordinated response to these threats. FATF Recommendation 8 requires that “the laws and regulations that govern non-profit organizations be reviewed so that these organizations cannot be abused for the financing of terrorism. The FATF has established best practices, aimed at preventing misuse of NPOs for the financing of terrorism while, at the same time, respecting legitimate actions of NPOs.”

Nonprofit organizations are vulnerable to abuse by terrorist networks since relief organizations operate in some of the same areas where terrorist groups exist and background checks on relief workers hired in those countries may be difficult. In turn, relief charities can get into trouble if their assistance is inadvertently distributed to terrorists. This can be challenging when, for example, an organization, is just distributing food to needy individuals. Also, terrorist groups recognize that since charities are often more trusted by others due to the nature of their work, some may “mimic” legitimate charities in order to operate without detection.

As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video that features Eskinder Negash, Senior Vice President for Global Engagement, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (a BBB Accredited Charity), a national refugee resettlement and immigration organization that specializes in providing services to foreign-born populations of forced migrants in the United States.

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Charities & 2019 Data Privacy Day
This past Monday, January 28^th, was Data Privacy Day which has been observed in the U.S. and Canada since 2008. The National Cyber Security Alliance, an organization that addresses cybersecurity and privacy education, leads this annual promotion. The objective, in part, is to help alert both the public and the business community to the importance of protecting personal information and to avoid online data breaches. The Council of Better Business Bureaus and BBBs also provide a page that addresses issues related to Data Privacy Day in 2019: https://bbbprograms.org/insights

Data privacy, however, is not just an issue for businesses, but is a vitally important matter for charitable organizations as well. Donors and others communicate online with charities via their websites, emails and other online means and need to be informed about what policies are in place to address privacy. For over 15 years, the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (see Standard 18b) have called for charities to have clear, prominent and accessible privacy policies on their websites that cover, at a minimum, the following elements:

Notice: What information is being collected by the charity and how will it be used?

Access: How do you contact the charity to review your personal information and, if needed, ask for corrections?

Choice: How do you inform the charity if you do not wish your personal information to be shared outside the organization?

Security: What security measures does the charity have to protect personal information that is received by them?

While data privacy issues have become more complex in recent years, the above four fundamental principles still provide a helpful start for both donors and charities to consider. Of course, charities in North America need to also become familiar with applicable government regulations addressing online privacy as well as applicable European Union regulations, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went into effect last year.

The bottom line for charities is that a privacy violation or a data breach can seriously impact not only the individuals included but also can significantly impact future trust and confidence in the organization. No one wants these violations to happen but without adequate preventative measures, the risks can be great.

Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Paul Miles, President & CEO, We Raise Foundation (a BBB Accredited Charity) which provides grants in the Lutheran community that support the initial development of sustainable health and human care ministries. The organization reports having a special interest in nurturing new health and human care ministries developed by local congregations and new faith-based organizations.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Breast Cancer Awareness

Before October comes to a close, I wanted to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the campaign to raise awareness for the prevention, treatment and cure of this devastating disease which the American Cancer Society reports is the most common cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer.) These annual awareness activities started over thirty years ago, in 1985, as a collaboration of a number of cancer charities. The month’s mega public reach permeates nearly every type of communication space available through promotions that range from races to retailers. In addition, a growing number of cancer charities are now established to specifically address breast cancer. They seek public donations for variety of programs that support awareness, medical research as well as those seeking help and advice in obtaining treatment.

Perhaps one of the most attention getting activities for this month is the array of promotions for consumer products announcing that their purchase will assist breast cancer charities. BBB Standards for Charity Accountability addresses such cause-related marketing activities. As stated in Standard 19, such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation, the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity, and if applicable, the duration of the campaign and any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount. For example, “5 cents for every abc product sold in October will go to xyz charity up to a maximum of $100,000.”

But, like all illnesses in need of a cure, funding is important throughout the year and not just on the designated month to bring attention to the cause. Nevertheless, such public awareness is helpful in reminding us about the significance of the issue and in alerting us to answer the call for help. As we enter November and the heart of giving seasons, I hope that breast cancer charities continue to share in your generosity. As always, we encourage interested donors to visit Give.org to verify if the organization meets all 20 of the BBB Charity Standards.

On a related note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video that features Ruth Hoffman, Executive Director, of American Childhood Cancer Organization (a BBB Accredited Charity) which seeks “to provide information and support for children and adolescents with cancer and their families, to provide grassroots leadership through advocacy and awareness, and to support research leading to a cure for all children diagnosed with this life-threatening disease.”

Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance

July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Data Privacy Day
Data Privacy Day will be observed on Tuesday, January 28^th in the U.S. and Canada. The National Cyber Security Alliance, an organization that addresses cybersecurity and privacy education, leads this annual promotion. The objective, in part, is to help alert both the public and the business community to the importance of protecting personal information and to avoid online data breaches. Better Business Bureau also provides a page that addresses issues related to Data Privacy Day in 2020: https://BBB.org/privacy.

In addition, BBB National Programs provides a page that addresses issues related to Data Privacy Day in 2020: https://bbbprograms.org/insights. This page includes timely blog posts that help organizations better serve their customers and website visitors by aligning their practices with recent legal updates.

Data privacy, however, is not just an issue for businesses, but is a vitally important matter for charitable organizations as well. Donors and others communicate online with charities via their websites, emails and other online means and need to be informed about what policies are in place to address privacy. For over 15 years, the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (see Standard 18b) have called for charities to have clear, prominent and accessible privacy policies on their websites that cover, at a minimum, the following elements:

Notice: What information is being collected by the charity and how will it be used?

Access: How do you contact the charity to review your personal information and, if needed, ask for corrections?

Choice: How do you inform the charity if you do not wish your personal information to be shared outside the organization?

Security: What security measures does the charity have to protect personal information that is received by them?

While data privacy issues have become more complex in recent years, the above four fundamental principles still provide a helpful start for both donors and charities to consider. The bottom line for charities is that a privacy violation or a data breach can seriously impact not only the individuals included but also can significantly impact future trust and confidence in the organization. No one wants these violations to happen but without adequate preventative measures, the risks can be great.

Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Thomas Kemper, General Secretary, United Methodist Committee on Relief, a BBB Accredited Charity that seeks to alleviate suffering whether caused by war, conflict or natural disaster. UMCOR helps communities in the United States and abroad prepare for emergencies and to reduce the risk of disasters through a roster of training programs. The organization’s International Development Unit works through its field offices and partner network to facilitate long-term community development and empowerment in areas of need.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
July 17, 2020
Wise Giving Wednesday: Update on Hurricane Harvey Relief Fundraising

As people return to their homes after Hurricane Harvey, the enormity of the storm’s impact becomes even more evident. As reported, over 40,000 homes were damaged and large numbers of people remain in shelters. As the charity relief efforts continue, we thought it would be helpful to provide readers with an updated list of both national and local charities that are soliciting for some aspect of assistance to help the communities hurt by the storm. All of these charities were evaluated by either the BBB Wise Giving Alliance or the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and found to meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

We also remind donors that the charitable needs of these areas will not disappear when the headlines do, so keep these organizations in mind for current as well as future giving opportunities. In turn, these relief efforts will eventually evolve into the recovery phase of relief which will focus on clean-up and long-term rebuilding efforts that will require planning as well as additional funding. Recovery is likely to take years to address and as New Orleans recovery efforts after Katrina has shown, there are challenges that can occur along that journey.

The following is a list of BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., organizations that meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) that are raising funds for Hurricane Harvey relief assistance. This list will be updated as additional relief efforts come to BBB WGA’s attention.

ALS Association / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association

American Red Cross

AmeriCares

ASPCA / American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Brother’s Brother Foundation

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese Galveston-Houston

Change Happens!

Christian Community Service Center

Church World Service

Citizens for Animal Protection

Communities in Schools

Direct Relief

DonorsChoose.org

El Centro de Corazon

Episcopal Relief and Development

Feed the Children

Feeding America

First Book

Fuller Center for Housing

GlobalGiving Foundation

Greater Houston Community Foundation

Habitat for Humanity

Houston Area Women’s Center

Houston Children’s Charity

Houston Food Bank

Houston Habitat for Humanity

Houston Humane Society

Houston SPCA

Humane Society of the United States

Humble Area Assistance Ministries (H.A.A.M.)

Islamic Relief USA

MAP International

Matthew 25: Ministries

Open Door Mission Foundation

Operation USA

PetSmart Charities

Project HOPE

Salvation Army

Save the Children

United Methodist Committee on Relief

United Way of Greater Houston

United Way Worldwide

West Houston Assistance Ministries

World Vision

As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video that features John Lyon, President & CEO, World Hope International (a BBB Accredited Charity) that serves as a Christian humanitarian relief and development organization that provides services to the poor, the vulnerable, the oppressed, the homeless, and those who suffer from war, natural disaster and chronic need. The organization’s program areas include anti-trafficking and gender-based violence, agriculture, education, child sponsorship, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, emergency response, and rural and economic development.

Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance

July 17, 2020