Format: Article

Wise Giving Wednesday: Back-to-School Demands Put Extra Pressure on Charities Helping Kids
With government aid programs shrinking, charities are bracing for an influx of families in need of school-year essentials.

The Need Is Growing, While Resources Shrink

As millions of children head back to school, many families are struggling to afford basic necessities. Charities supporting families with school-aged children are preparing for a surge in demand, even as they struggle with the impact of recent government funding cuts.

For example, as reported by the Urban Institute, approximately 22.3 million U.S. families (mostly working families and those with children) will lose some or all of their SNAP benefits as a consequence of the bill (H.R. 1) passed in July 2025. With low-income households losing eligibility or facing benefit cuts, reliance on food banks is expected to rise. Food banks, which are already facing reductions in government funding, call for empathy and public support.

How You Can Help Charities Support Children This School Year

Here are a few ways you can make a difference:
- Support Charities in your Community: Whether their programs include backpack drives, meals, or after‑school programs, you can make a difference in your community by donating or volunteering.
- Support National Charities with Broad Reach. For example, visit Feeding America (a BBB Accredited Charity) to help locate a food bank near you.
- Ask the charity how you can best support them. While in-kind gifts like clothing, school supplies, or food are appreciated, cash donations can often go further.
- Give to Trustworthy Charities: Visit Give.org to see if the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability(i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity). If a BBB charity report is not available on a shelter, review the organization’s website for additional details about its services, needs, and achievements.
Heart of Giving Podcast – Ken Phillips on Building Trust in a Skeptical World

This week’s Heart of Giving podcast features a discussion with Ken Phillips, founder of NGO Futures LLC which provides training and consulting services to non-governmental organizations. This episode tackles one of the most pressing challenges facing charities worldwide: declining public trust. The conversation offers practical wisdom for nonprofit leaders, donors, and anyone concerned about strengthening public trust in charitable organizations.

Want more episodes? Check out the full series here.

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.
August 20, 2025
BBB Wise Giving Alliance Launches AskGive: AI-Powered Giving Advisor

New technology combines century of trust-building expertise with artificial intelligence to provide personalized philanthropy guidance

ARLINGTON, VA (August 13, 2025) – BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) today launched AskGive, a groundbreaking generative AI tool that provides donors with trusted information about charities and giving in real-time. The innovative platform addresses growing concerns about donor trust by making charitable giving advice more accessible than ever before.

AskGive harnesses the power of advanced artificial intelligence alongside BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s extensive library of charity evaluations, expert-vetted charity data, and trusted donor guidance. Through an intuitive conversational interface, the tool delivers instant answers to donor questions while connecting users directly to comprehensive giving tips, detailed charity reports, and each organization’s BBB Accreditation status.

“Our vision for AskGive is simple: empower individuals to give confidently and help them connect with trusted charities,” said Bennett Weiner, President & CEO at BBB Wise Giving Alliance. “We built this technology not just to encourage wise giving, but to ensure trust and transparency remain central to philanthropy in our increasingly digital world.”

Addressing Critical Need in Charitable Sector
The launch comes at a crucial time when the sector faces low donor trust and a ‘generosity crises’ where the the number of households giving to charity is declining. AskGive leverages BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s 100-year legacy of building trust and maintaining rigorous standards-backed charity evaluation to offer donors a reliable new pathway forward.

The tool transforms how people approach charitable giving by providing immediate access to verified information all in one place. Users can ask specific questions about charities, explore giving strategies, and receive guidance tailored to their philanthropic interests and concerns.

New Technology, Trustworthy Approach
AskGive was developed through a strategic collaboration between BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Handshake, combining BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s deep expertise in charity evaluation with cutting-edge AI technology. Following a successful year-long beta testing period that incorporated valuable stakeholder feedback, the tool is now available to the public.

Donors can begin using AskGive immediately by visiting Give.org/AskGive/ or any page on Give.org, where they’ll find an accessible platform designed to guide them toward informed giving decisions.

About BBB Wise Giving Alliance: BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) serves as a standards-based charity evaluator dedicated to verifying the trustworthiness of nationally soliciting charities. The organization conducts rigorous evaluations based on 20 comprehensive standards that examine charity governance, results reporting, finances, fundraising practices, appeal accuracy, and other critical factors. National charity reports are produced by BBB’s Give.org, while local charity reports are created by local Better Business Bureaus. All reports are available free of charge at Give.org.

About the Better Business Bureau (BBB): For over 110 years, the Better Business Bureau has empowered consumers to find businesses and brands they can trust. In 2024 alone, people consulted BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles covering 5.5 million businesses. Free access to these comprehensive business reports is available at BBB.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus serves as the umbrella organization for local, independent BBBs throughout the United States and Canada. (Note: BBB reports on charities are now exclusively available at Give.org.)

MEDIA CONTACT:

Elvia Castro
Phone: (703) 247-9322
Email: ecastro [at] give.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 13, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: Key Tips for Organizing a Charity Golf Event
With summer in full “swing,” many charities take advantage of golf fundraisers to lure in big bucks from wealthy donors. Charities from large cancer groups to local arts groups can benefit from these events with proper planning and reasonable expectations. In this week’s Wise Giving Wednesday, we take a look at a few of the things to keep in mind before you tee off.

Plan Ahead and Secure the Course Early

Charities considering hosting a charity golf event need to plan ahead. Look to secure a golf course a minimum of 6 months in advance, if not more. Organizations will also need time to work with the golf course operators concerning coordination and logistics. Is the golf club going to be responsible for food and drink or does the charity need to contact outside vendors? Are there any club rules that charity staff, volunteers and participants need to know about?

Build a Realistic Budget and Consider Sponsorships

Once a charity has secured a course, begin considering all of the elements that go into hosting a successful event. There are meals, greens fees, carts and caddies. Think about swag, gifts for participants, and action items that might be added to those costs. A potential revenue source for charities is looking for outside funding from corporate sponsors. If you’ve ever tuned into the Masters or other major golf tournaments, you’ll see different corporate logos on the shirts and hats of the players. Corporations are similarly willing to sponsor charity events in exchange for publicity such as well-placed advertisements. And what golfer doesn’t want a new hat or golf polo for their next 18?

Be Transparent About Donations and Fees

Charities should make it clear to golf participants and others how their event entry fee will be distributed to the charity. This goes for any merchandise, food sales, auction items, or other goods or services sold to benefit the charity. Disclosures should be clear about the estimated or anticipated portion of these fees and/or purchases that will benefit the charity. Watch out for vague statements such as “net proceeds” will go to the charity.

Leverage Volunteers and Special Guests

Golf events often rely on help from volunteers. Handing out merchandise, serving food and drinks, coordinating tee times and making sure charitable golfers have everything they need to have a good day on the course are just a few of the ways volunteers can help an event run smoothly. These participants are paying hundreds of dollars, if not much more, to play in these events and expect first-class service. Volunteers can help ensure these events run as smoothly as possible so they’ll want to come back next summer too. Again, reach out to donors early and often. Incentives such as golf balls, clothing, or a photo op with any celebrity participants can never hurt.

Where possible, reach out to celebrities or professional golfers that might have an interest in your charity and would like to make a voluntary appearance. Everyone has issues that hit close to home, and special guests can draw interest to these events.

Start Small and Learn from Experience

Putting on a charity golf event can be a complicated task. Starting with a smaller golf event may help charities unfamiliar with the terrain and seeking to work out the kinks. Also, search for resources and guidance such as a charity with previous experience hosting charitable golfing tournaments.

Whether best ball or a scramble, adequate preparation is key to success in hosting a golf event to raise funds for charities.

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.
August 6, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: What 2026 Tax Code Changes Mean for Charitable Giving
New tax code changes set for 2026 could significantly reshape how individuals and corporations approach charitable giving, offering both new opportunities and new challenges for the charitable sector.

New Charitable Deduction Rules set for 2026

New charitable deduction rules will take effect in 2026 that will affect itemizers, non-itemizers and corporations. Here’s how different types of donors will be impacted.

What Non-Itemizers Need to Know

As part of legislation passed earlier in July, individuals who don’t itemize their deductions for tax filings will become eligible for charitable giving deductions in 2026. For individuals, the deduction will be up to $1,000 and $2,000 for couples. These figures don’t include in-kind gifts of goods or services or donations to crowdfunding campaigns posted by individuals. These deductions are for cash gifts only and don’t include gifts of in-kind goods or services or those to donor-advised funds. While these restrictions may not fit everyone’s giving strategies, these changes may encourage more people to contribute.

How the New Rules Affect Itemizers

Itemizers will be able to deduct only cash contributions that exceed 0.5% of their adjusted gross income (AGI). In other words, this itemization floor means if your AGI is $100,000, only gifts above $500 are eligible for deductions. Additionally, itemizers won’t be able to deduct the portion of cash donations above 60% of AGI (for the year they are made). Some individuals may choose to lump several years of charitable contributions into one year or consider the flexibility of donor-advised funds.

Corporate Giving Faces New Deduction Limits

Corporate giving will be facing new restraints as a 1% AGI floor will go into effect as well. If corporate contributions fall below 1%, these organizations will have to decide whether to give above the threshold in a given year to reap the tax benefits but bundle multiple years’ worth of giving into one year, a situation that complicates charity planning and budgeting.

What These Changes Mean for Charities and Donors

Charities are hopeful that the new tax breaks for those taking the standard deduction will encourage new donors and bring others back to the table. Some estimates predict tens of billions in new charitable revenue. A more cautious estimate points not to a short-term boon but to the long-term benefits of charities re-engaging with donors. A lot will depend on charity’s ability to connect with donors, help them understand the new tax benefits, and highlight the advantages of giving to an established organization in a diverse and competitive marketplace.

To find trustworthy charitable organizations, please visit Give.org to identify BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., meet all 20 BBB Charity Standards).

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.
July 30, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: Charity Fraud Alert – Watch Out for Fake-Check Donation Scams
A $95,000 “gift” to an animal charity in British Columbia nearly turned into a costly fake-check scam.

How a $95K Fake-Check Scam Unfolded in British Columbia

According to a news story appearing in the Richmond News in British Columbia, Canada, an animal welfare charity was recently targeted by a fraud scheme and wants to get the word out to help prevent other nonprofits from being victimized. The charity was contacted by an individual via email claiming to want to make a $95,000 gift as instructed by their late partner for the purpose of taking care of the decedent’s dog. The charity then received a letter, supposedly from a law firm, which included a check, supposedly from the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Once the organization deposited the check and began using the funds for renovation of their cat sanctuary, the “lawyer” contacted the charity claiming that there had been a mistake and asked for a $70,000 refund. Fortunately, before they “refunded” any funds, their bank notified the organization that the check was fraudulent and contacted the police and the Canadian Ministry of Finance.

While this charity didn’t lose any money to the fraudsters, the bad news is they had already started using the phony “windfall” funds on their cat sanctuary improvements, with no way to recoup the money.

Reporting a Fake-Donation Scam

Fraud schemes similar to this fake-check overpayment scam have taken place in the U.S. For example, a charity is informed a wealthy individual will be making a sizable gift and sending it overnight mail. Then, the alleged donor asks the charity to return a significant portion of the donation due to a medical emergency. The fake check scenario can have devastating consequences, especially for small nonprofits that may be struggling to keep the lights on.

If a charity experiences such a scam, BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends that the organization contacts the office of the attorney general in their state (in Canada, see the fraud page on Canada Revenue Agency). It could also post a notice to BBB Scam Tracker to help alert others about the suspected scam.

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.
July 23, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: Live Aid at 40 – Music, Generosity & Lessons for Today
Forty years ago, Live Aid united artists, audiences, and global attention around famine relief, showing how music can mobilize generosity on a massive scale.

Live Aid at 40: The Day Music Went Global for Good
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since some of the biggest names in music took to the stage at London’s Wembley Stadium and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, linked by satellite on July 13, 1985. Live Aid, a massive concert which was also broadcast to over 1.9 billon worldwide, raised over $125 million for famine relief in Africa, not to mention awareness of the issues of global poverty and hunger. Organized by musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, Live Aid, performers included a laundry list of stars with more than 70 performers and lasted over 15 hours. Mick Jagger and Tina Tuner stole the show in Philadelphia, along with performances from Bob Dylan and Santana. Across the pond in London, in a show opened by Princess Diana and Prince Charles (now King), Tina Turner teamed up with Mick Jagger for a duet with Elton John, Paul McCartney and David Bowie in the mix. Perhaps the most iconic of all was the set by Queen which included anthems “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.”

From Live Aid to Today: Benefit Concerts Carry the Torch

Live Aid also inspired future fundraising events like Farm Aid and America: A Tribute to Heroes (for 9/11 relief). More recently, the Concert for the Carolinas, with notables James Taylor, Luke Combs and Billy Strings, raised money for relief in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina last September. Billie Eilish, Sting and Rod Stewart are a few of the artists who teamed up for FireAid to benefit the Southern California wildfires. There will surely be events in the wake of Central Texas floods earlier in July.

In the age of smartphones and instant access to so much information, taste in music and entertainment is no longer limited to what you hear on the radio or see on MTV. Platforms such as SoundCloud allow anyone to upload their creations, regardless of merit. While some critics believe there will never be a concert as big and influential as Live Aid, the reach of streaming platforms and social media make these events possible, and there are big stars with a lot of reach still out there.

Planning a Benefit Concert? Here Are 5 Wise Giving Tips

Hopefully, musicians will continue to help charitable causes in the future. Every dollar counts. To help ensure future events are effective in raising funds, organizers might want to consider the following tips:

1. When fundraising for disasters and emergencies take place, donors generally expect collected funds to be distributed quickly unless told otherwise.

2. While some concert fundraisers create a new charity to house collected funds, this can sometimes create an administrative challenge in distribution and oversight. Sometimes it is best to partner with established charities that can carry out announced program goals more effectively.

3. If a concert event partners with established charities, the organizers should take time to verify the trustworthiness of the chosen organizations by verifying if they meet BBB Charity Standards by visiting Give.org.

4. Transparency of how much was collected and how it was used should be a planned communication activity. This may also encourage additional future gifts.

5. If tickets are being sold to attend a concert fundraising event, promotions should be careful about any statements referencing tax deductibility. In general, such ticket purchases, if sold at their fair market value, are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. For more on this issue, see IRS Publication 526.
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.
July 17, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: Historic July 4th Flooding Devastates Central Texas

The force and speed with which flash floods happen in central Texas have earned the region the nickname “Flash Flood Alley.” After falling on hills and valleys, the rainwater rushes to lower elevations, where only a top layer of soil covers hard limestone unable to absorb the water. The flooding represents the deadliest inland flooding since Colorado’s Big Thompson Canyon flooding in 1976, which killed 144.

As of July 9^th, over 119 people had lost their lives in the Texas floods, with over 160 still missing. Kerr County was hit especially hard. The lowlands of the county, along the Guadalupe River, are filled with summer camps and campgrounds, where water rose a reported 26 feet in less than an hour. Sadly, at least 27 campers and counselors at century-old Camp Mystic perished in the flooding.

In addition to state and local government search and rescue, charities have already begun to help. Rebuilding the communities in Texas, as with all natural disasters, requires immediate as well as sustained aid. Survivors will need food, shelter, and mental health services, to name a few, so they will need monetary as well as in-kind support. Before you give, please look over our list of charities helping in the aftermath of this devastating event. In addition to the list below, please look over our tips for giving to help the victims of the Texas floods.

BBB Accredited Charities Responding to the Flooding Disaster in Central Texas

The following organizations are BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) and currently announce on their respective websites that they are collecting funds to assist with relief efforts for the flooding in Central Texas. Additional BBB Accredited Charities will be added as we learn more about their flood assistance efforts.

American Kidney Fund

American Red Cross

Americares

Church World Service

Episcopal Relief & Development

Feeding America

Good360

International Medical Corps

MAP International

Matthew 25: Ministries

Salvation Army

United Way Worldwide

World Vision

July 9, 2025
How to Help Victims of Texas Flooding
As of Monday morning, news reports indicate that the devastating flooding in Central Texas has resulted in at least 81 deaths including 27 from Camp Mystic in Kerr County. Dozens are still missing. More rain is expected today and the search for survivors continues. For those interested in helping through charitable contributions, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice.

Five Tips for Supporting Texas Flood Victims
- Cautions with donating goods. Donating clothing, food or other in-kind donations may not be the best way to help unless the charity has the ability to properly distribute such aid. Ask about their transportation and distribution plans.
- Find out what needs the charity is addressing. Many individuals and families in impacted areas will seek safety in shelters and need access to food and water. Charities focused on such activities serve a vital role in helping communities address natural disasters.
- Consider crowdfunding requests. If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust. Also review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take significant measures to vet posts, others don’t.
- Recognize the phases of disaster relief. While much of the attention focuses on the first 72 hours after a disaster, charities provide vital support well beyond that period. From immediate aid to long-term recovery and preparedness, your contributions help at every stage of rebuilding. Learn more on our disaster relief and preparedness cause page.
- Verify the charity’s trustworthiness. Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. We recommend giving to charities that meet all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability found at Give.org. On Give.org we invite you to browse our A-Z list of national charities, and search thousands of charity reports while filtering charities by state, cause area, and accreditation status.
Click here to access a list of BBB Accredited Charities raising funds to help address this disaster.
July 7, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: Total 2024 Giving Shows Moderate Growth Over Previous Year
The latest Giving USA: The Annual Report for Philanthropy was released this week, showing total giving of $592.45 billion in 2024. Giving USA is published by the Giving Institute with research conducted by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. As reported by both the Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Times, this shows a 6.3% growth over the previous year, 3.3% when adjusted for inflation. While the total amount of charitable giving has increased compared to the previous year, the share from individual donors has dropped from 82% in 1984 to just 66% in 2024, reflecting a steady decline in the number of U.S. households contributing to charity. Religion continues to be the largest recipient of donations at 23% of all giving.

According to Giving USA, the $592.50 billion in charitable contributions comes from the following sources:

Individuals – 66% – $392.45 billion
Foundations – 19% – $109.81 billion
Bequests – 8% – $45.84 billion
Corporations – 7% – 44.40 billion

The distribution of funds by type of organization is:

Religion – 23% – 146.54 billion
Human services – 14% – 91.15 billion
Education – 14% – 88.32 billion
Gifts to grantmaking foundations – 11% – $71.92 billion
Public-society benefit – 11% – 66.84 billion
Health – 10% – $60.51 billion
International affairs – 6% – $35.54 billion
Arts, culture & humanities – 4% – $25.13 billion
To individuals* – 4% – $23.59 billion
Environment and animals – 3% – $21.57 billion

*Giving to individuals is primarily giving by pharmaceutical companies directly to patients.

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.
July 2, 2025
Wise Giving Wednesday: Tribute to Cass Wheeler
Image © American Heart Association

This special edition of Wise Giving Wednesday recognizes Cass Wheeler, a cherished nonprofit sector leader who recently passed away.

Honoring a Legacy of Leadership and Accountability in the Charitable Sector

Cass served as CEO of the American Heart Association from 1998 to 2008 and was key in helping to consolidate the regional offices of that charity into a more streamlined and efficient structure.

I first met Cass many years ago, during a speaking engagement with the National Health Council, which held meetings for executives from health-related charities. He was approachable, patient, and very knowledgeable.

He strongly believed in the importance and value of charity accountability and ethics. When BBB Wise Giving Alliance launched the BBB Accredited Charity Seal program in March 2003, Cass attended our press conference in Washington, DC, and made sure that American Heart Association was among the first charities to participate in this optional program for charities that meet all of the BBB Charity Standards.

In 2012, after he retired from American Heart Association, Cass joined the BBB Wise Giving Alliance Board of Directors, where he served for six years, the last two as Board Chair. Cass was a leader that helped us grow, evolve, and expand our outreach. We are eternally grateful for his contributions. He had a great friendship with BBB WGA’s previous President & CEO, Art Taylor, which continued long after his board term.

Cass was a helpful and influential leader in the charitable community and will be missed. BBB Wise Giving Alliance extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We were honored to have the opportunity to know him professionally and personally.

Bennett Weiner
President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance

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.
June 25, 2025