Category: Wise Giving Wednesday

For many of us, July 4 ^th brings to mind family outings, community concerts and fireworks which all contribute to make it a fun celebration. In the world of charity fundraising, summer fun for donors is often one of the incentives for using golf events to raise charity funds. Of course, not all golf fundraising events are the same. There’s lots to consider for both charities and donors.  We won’t cover it all but offer a sampling of considerations through the following tips. 

1. It’s about the charity, not the game .  The golfing event is really about raising money for the specified charity. This is all the more reason to make sure that appeals to participate include a clear description of the activities the money will be supporting. Although potential donors may be approached by colleagues and friends, they may be completely unfamiliar with the benefiting organization.  Individuals should also check out the trustworthiness of the group by visiting Give.org to verify if they meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability .
2. Lots to plan before tee time.   To be financially successful, golfing events take considerable advance planning. For the use of a popular golf course and to cut the best deal, a charity may need to make a reservation from six months up to a year before the planned date.  
3. Covering costs.  Usually, a charity will seek to cover all of the golf event expenses (green fees, food, prizes, etc.) a couple months before the date of the event.  This is usually done by selling sponsorships from businesses in exchange for advertising their name and logo as supporting the charity event. A number of online advisories about golfing events claim that this step is critical and if the charity is unable to raise sufficient advance funding, it should consider canceling.  A charity golf event that loses money can result in negative publicity.
4. Volunteers are key.  Organizing a golf fundraising event is not a one-person job. A charity should get help by using volunteers, especially on the day of the event.  Setting up a committee might also be of assistance in getting connections to colleagues to sign up golfers for the date.  
5. Turning fun into financial success.  The most common game played in fundraising golf is called the scramble – each player in the group shoots from the tee, then everyone takes their next shot from the ball located in the best position.  There are usually many opportunities to raise funds on the day of the event through various prizes, games and offerings such as putting contests, who can hit the longest drive, and asking donations for each mulligan (“do over” shot) used in a game. Also, some golf events are using mobile technology to enable bidding to raise money during these contests. These activities can quickly add up to significant amounts raised for the cause.
6. Start small and think big. Like all fundraising, it is sometimes best to test the waters by starting a small event and then working out the kinks to develop a more robust activity down the road.  If a charity tries to develop its own version of the U.S. Open the first time out on the green, it will likely fall considerably short of its goal.
7. A fundraising supplement or staple?  Charities usually use a golfing event as a supplement rather than a main source of funds as there are no guarantees, especially if you take the weather into account.  

Finally, a note about last week’s edition of Wise Giving Wednesday, which addressed Charities and Terrorist Financing.  We appreciate the feedback received by several readers and plan to follow-up on this subject based on this input.  

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As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video that features an interview with Jaime Berman Matyas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Student Conservation Association (a BBB Accredited Charity). The Association has been involved in building the next generation of conservation leaders and encouraging environmental stewardship since 1957.  Among other things, it provides college and high school-aged members with hands-on conservation service opportunities in several fields. 

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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:

• Death with Dignity National Center
• Foundation for AIDS Research
• Susan G. Komen 

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

While every community recognizes the vital work of its police and law enforcement officers, the recent tragedies involving the shooting of police has magnified the risks law enforcement faces in carrying out their duties and has increased public interest in how to help the victims and families of police officers that have been killed or injured.  So when a solicitation is received to donate to a police group, some people are likely to be receptive to offering a contribution to help.  While many such groups have been involved in a variety of programs to provide assistance, there are also questionable efforts that will seek to take advantage of public concern about this issue. To help spot red flags, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to consider. 

Watch Out for Misleading Police Organization Names

The words “police,” “law enforcement,” “trooper” and/or “sheriff” in the name of the organization does not mean that any members of your local police force are involved and the organization may have no activities in your area other than raising funds.  

Be Wary of Excessive Pressure in Police Fundraising

Don’t be pressured to make an on-the-spot giving decision. The charity that wants your money today will welcome it tomorrow. Take the time to check out police  organizations on Give.org before you donate. 

Expensive Telemarketing Campaigns

Some police organizations are known for using telemarketing as the principal means to raise funds.  Keep in mind that soliciting a high volume of “cold calls” to people who have never donated to the organization will usually result in high fundraising expenses with very little remaining (sometimes 20% or less) for the referenced police organization. 

Crowdfunding Cautions

Keep in mind that some crowdfunding sites do not do much vetting of posted requests for funds. While some families of fallen officers may decide to set up their own assistance funds, be aware that such funds may not be set up as charities.  As a result, the contributions may not be deductible as charitable gifts for federal income tax purposes. 

Watch Out for Vague Program Descriptions

The police organization’s appeals should be clear about how contributions will assist the families of fallen officers.  Program goals can vary quite widely. For example, promoting officer safety programs, scholarships for children of slain police officers, constructing memorials for fallen officers, etc.  Vague descriptions of assistance can be a signal that something is amiss. 

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On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are pleased to provide a video that features Robert Lee Bull Jr,  Chief Development Officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation  (a BBB Accredited Charity). Robert provides a brief overview of the National Trust’s program activities and explains what they do to help strengthen donor trust. 

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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: 

• American Bird Conservancy
• Patriot Outreach
• SoulMedic Media Group 

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

From time to time, the majority of us will receive phone calls at home requesting contributions. Although the most common reaction is to hang up, the reality is that telemarketing continues to serve as a means of raising funds for a variety of causes.  This development approach works best when the charity is contacting previous donors or individuals that have an established relationship with the charity such as a college soliciting alumni. In those cases, the caller might encourage a gift or propose a larger sum be donated than was contemplated. 

In contrast, charities or their fundraising representatives make “cold calls” to a broad audience generally to acquire new donors. Such an approach can result in a low rate of return and can end up creating circumstances where the charity receives a very small percentage of the total amount raised.  It’s reasonable for charities to do acquisition telemarketing if it is only one of many other successful and less expensive means of fundraising such as from direct mail, bequests, corporate gifts, events and others. Having a diverse fundraising program will help a keep the overall cost to raise a dollar lower than if a charity only used telemarketing. 

Its also important that a charity that uses an outside telemarketing firm get to keep the names and addresses of new donors acquired.  By getting the names and addresses of acquired donors, a charity can use a less expensive means to solicit those donors in the future. 

BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to help donors decide how best to handle phone requests for contributions: 

• Ask if the charity raises funds from means other than telemarketing
• Ask if the caller is from an outside telemarketing firm or the charity itself.  If the caller is from an outside firm then ask if the charity will get to keep the name and address when donations are made.
• Resist pressure to make an “on the spot’ donation decision. Legitimate charities will welcome your gift at another time.
• Get the name straight as some organizations raising money have similar sounding names, sometimes intentionally.
• If interested, you can always ask the caller to send you written information or provide the website address of the charity so you can check them out later.
• Visit Give.org to see if there is a report on the charity or request that one be developed. 

Remember that having your phone number listed with the government’s “Do Not Call Registry” does not apply to charity calls.  However, you can ask the telemarketer not to call again on behalf of a particular charity.

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As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide the following video that features Robin Perkins, Director of Marketing and Communications for  EarthShare (a BBB Accredited Charity) which annually helps hundreds of thousands of individuals connect with environmental and conservation charities. Among other things, they assist a number of workplace giving campaigns.   

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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: 

• Care Net
• Children with Hair Loss
• NAMI 

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

With 45 days to go before 2016 ends, most charities in America are working hard to make fundraising goals and encourage greater giving during the most active time for charity donations.  Some organizations receive about one-third of their overall contributions during the last quarter of the year.  There are a lot of motivating factors that converge to create these fundraising incentives at this time, including the influence of the holidays to remember those in need, the special promotions such as Giving Tuesday – the designated day of giving that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and the closing window for those in the U.S. who wish to take a tax deduction on their federal income taxes.

There is more than enough time, however, to make careful choices about donations including verifying the trustworthiness of charities by visiting Give.org to find out if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Our standards provide a comprehensive review of a variety of issues including charity governance, results reporting, finances, website disclosures and appeal accuracy.

We also encourage contributors to check that a charity is properly registered to solicit in their state by visiting the website of the appropriate state charity registration office, which is usually a division of the state’s office of the Attorney General or the Secretary of State’s office.  About 40 states require such registration in order for a charity to solicit funds.

We encourage donors to plan ahead and not wait until midnight on December 31 ^st to make their charitable giving choices.  And, consider making a larger contribution once you have verified your trust in the charity you want to support.

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On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are pleased to provide a video that features Mark Bergel, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of  A Wider Circle (a  BBB Accredited Charity).  A Wider Circle is an organization that works to end poverty for individuals and families by collecting and distributing donated goods, providing professional attire, job preparedness courses, and a well-baby program. 

 

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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

Last Thursday, we distributed a press release that included a list of the 10 largest charities (ranked by Fiscal Year 2014 total contributions) that did not disclose any of the information requested by BBB WGA despite repeated written request.  These organizations were among those generating inquiries to BBB WGA from individuals seeking verification of the charity’s trustworthiness. 

When BBB WGA receives inquiries about a nationally soliciting charity, its routine procedure is to send up to three written requests to the organization, one of them via-certified-mail, that invites the charity to enroll in BBB WGA’s Online Charity Reporting system so that they can get access to our detailed questionnaire form.  If no response is received to these requests, a report is posted explaining the charity’s nondisclosure status.  Prior to this posting, the charity receives a draft copy of this report as part of the third request letter. 

There is no charge to the charity to enroll or for the accountability review and resulting report.  

Originally, BBB WGA had identified 20 national charities for potential inclusions in our press release. After informing them of our intended campaign we are pleased that ten of them either provided some information or enrolled to start the information submission process.  In addition, one of the ten charities (Pact) included on the list in the release, has since enrolled as well. 

In addition, because of the broad areas covered by our standards, publicly available financial information such as the IRS Form 990, is not sufficient to verify if a charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.   

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On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are pleased to provide a video featuring Dr. Preston W. Campbell III,  President and CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation  (a BBB Accredited Charity) which seeks to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high quality, specialized care.  

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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: 

Armed Services YMCA of the USA
Luke’s Wings
Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation  

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

The impact on Hurricane Irma on Florida is staggering – damaged homes, downed trees, blocked roads and an estimated two-thirds of the state without power.  It is hard to believe that less than two weeks after the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, we are again heart-stricken by the pain and suffering from another huge storm, larger than anyone would have imagined.  

BBB Wise Giving Alliance again urges donors to review our disaster relief donation tips to avoid being taken by questionable efforts to raise funds and ensure that charities that receive contributions will be able to follow-through to serve those needing assistance in impacted areas.  And watch out for promotional claims that 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting hurricane victims, the truth is that the charity is still probably incurring fund raising and administrative expenses.  It may use some of its other funds to pay these costs, but these expenses will still be incurred.      

To assist contributors in making these choices, the following charities are soliciting for some aspect of assistance to help the communities hurt by the storm. All of these charities were found to meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.  This list will be updated as additional efforts come to our attention. As we noted with Hurricane Harvey, the charitable needs of Hurricane Irma victims will not disappear when the headlines do, so keep hurricane assistance in mind not only for immediate relief needs but for longer term recovery efforts as well.

ALS Association / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association  

American Kidney Fund

American Red Cross

AmeriCares

ASPCA / American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Brother’s Brother Foundation

Catholic Relief Services

Community Health Charities

Church World Service

Direct Relief

Disabled American Veterans

DonorsChoose.org

Episcopal Relief and Development

Feed the Children

Feeding America

First Book

GlobalGiving Foundation

Habitat for Humanity

Helping Hand for Relief and Development

Heart to Heart International

Humane Society of the United States

International Medical Corps

MAP International

Matthew 25: Ministries

Oxfam America

Operation USA

PetSmart Charities

Project HOPE

Salvation Army

Save the Children

SOS Children’s Villages – USA

UNICEF USA

United Methodist Committee on Relief

United Way Worldwide

World Vision

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As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide the following video that features Scott Case, Chair of the Board of Network for Good (a BBB Accredited Charity).  Network for Good enables donors to make online contributions to charities and offers charities training in online fundraising.  

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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

While workplace giving is a well-established employee outreach activity at most major companies, it has changed and evolved over the years in very significant ways.  At one time, United Way and other combined appeals dominated the giving options that were available to employees.  Today, many businesses offer other alternatives ranging from matching payroll contributions designated for community charities selected by employees to engaging staff with electronic and social media donation activities.   Apparently, employee “engagement” has become the dominating trend in developing these workplace programs.  In addition, some companies have incorporated volunteerism in the mix of encouraged charity involvement and have spread some of the giving options to be throughout the year and not just during the fall. 

Workplace giving is also the subject of the latest  Building Trust Video Series which features an interview with Thomas G. Bognanno, President & CEO of Community Health Charities (a BBB Accredited Charity).  This organization has one of the largest workplace giving programs in the U.S. and during the past five years has helped distribute more than $400 million to its nearly 2,000 member charities which focus on health issues. Not only is Tom knowledgeable on workplace giving but he also strongly believes in the importance of accountability.  As you will hear in the video, Community Health Charities developed its own charity participation guidelines based on the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. This helps demonstrate that BBB Charity Standards have impact not only in the evaluative reports appearing on our website but also in the various ways that charities encourage compliance in their relations with their members, local affiliates and chapters. 

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:

• Atlas Service Corps
• Common Cause Education Fund
• National Council of the US Society of St. Vincent de Paul 

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