One year ago, on 2/12/2020, Wise Giving Wednesday first mentioned contributing to charities addressing coronavirus. Although, at that time, the focus was on helping people in China, charities in the U.S. were soon impacted in terms of their operations and then in their fundraising. While many organizations sought to adapt to the circumstances, some groups suffered financially. On April 7. 2020, BBB Wise Giving Alliance issued a Special Give.org Donor Trust Report: COVID-19 and the Charitable Sector which confirmed that most charities were concerned about maintaining a financially stable organization.

As a result, there has been great interest in identifying the end of year total giving figures for 2020. As reported in The Chronicle of Philanthropy yesterday, Blackbaud Institute released its 2020 Charitable Giving Report which provides one of the first estimates of giving totals from the previous year. Based on their tracking of $40 billion dollars raised by 8,800 groups, they estimate that overall giving rose 2 percent. That does not mean, however, that all charities did well. While the study announced charities that raise over $10 million saw a 5.3 percent increase, smaller organizations raising less than $1 million saw a 7.2 percent drop. In turn, some categories of charities experienced more financial hardship than others particularly arts & culture charities and medical research organizations.

In view of the fact that most in-person fundraising events by charities were either cancelled or not held in 2020, it is not surprising that online giving experienced a 21 percent growth and represents 13 percent of total fundraising in 2020. Blackbaud reported that online giving also grew in size, gift amounts and retention rates. Interestingly, faith-based organizations reported the largest percentage of fundraising from online giving – almost 18 percent. As the pandemic continues in 2021, it is likely that the transition to more online giving will grow further.

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Lieutenant General Robert Ruark USMC (Ret.), CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (a BBB Accredited Charity), an organization that assists the families of United States Marine Corps and of United States Navy Corpsmen by providing their children with scholarships to attend colleges, universities and vocational and technical institutions.

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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:

• Prison Fellowship Ministries
• Prostate Cancer Foundation
• St. Baldrick’s Foundation

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

As Valentine’s Day approaches, most of us will think of how to demonstrate our affection for loved ones. While we wish a happy Valentine’s Day to all of our readers, we also hope that this day will inspire some to recognize the special place our hearts have for charities and how we might explore ways to show our support for our favorite causes. Here are some suggestions to consider.

Help Hearts Stay Healthy
February, coincidentally, is Heart Month. So consider supporting a charity that addresses cardiovascular disease, such as the American Heart Association, a BBB Accredited Charity that has been involved in public health education, research, professional education, training and community services for almost a century.

Warming Hearts with Warm Clothing
As cold weather is hitting most of us this winter, another Valentine’s option is to make in-kind gifts of coats and clothing to charities that accept such contributions. But before doing this, be sure to check out the charity to see if there is a BBB Charity Report specifying if the organization meets the BBB Charity Standards. Also, check with your state government’s charity registration office which is usually a division of either the office of the Attorney General or the Secretary of State. About 40 of the 50 states require such charity registration. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency. Also don’t assume that clothing collected in metal bins is distributed to the poor. Some may be sold in charity thrift shops to help raise funds. Or, in other cases, the metal bin placed in a parking lot may have no connection to charity whatsoever.

Send a Valentine to Your Own Heart
People feel good with they give to help others. It instills a sense of community as well as self-esteem. In a way, it’s a mental health Valentine to yourself. To further explore this objective, read the following blog (How Donating to a Charity Can Boost Mental Health) from our colleague, Kelsey Gardipee, Charity Review Manager at the Better Business Bureau Great West & Pacific.

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Video of the Week

As part of the Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video that features Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association (a BBB Accredited Charity) which seeks to improve cardiovascular health of all Americans while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The organization also reports that it works as a catalyst connecting across sectors, communities, and countries to drive toward an equitable and healthy world. AHA works to accelerate heart and brain science through grants. AHA also translates science and advocates to see it applied in the healthcare system, in public policies, and in communities. The organization provides science-based treatment guidelines to healthcare professionals to help them provide quality care to their patients, and educates lawmakers, policymakers and the public to advocate for changes to protect and improve the health of our schools, worksites, and communities. 

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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:

• Caring for Cambodia
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• NeedyMeds

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

In the midst of a pandemic, charities are looking for alternatives to in-person fundraising events to help bring in new donor dollars and/or draw more attention to their cause. As reported in The NonProfit Times and other media, St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (a BBB Accredited Charity) is engaged in a fundraising promotion that involves “two seats on the first all-civilian mission to space, planned for the fourth-quarter this year by SpaceX….”  While outer space may not be the first thing that comes to mind for a charity seeking development options, it is bound to get more attention after a 30-second spot is aired during the upcoming Super Bowl. The promotion is also a collaboration with Shift4 Payments (a BBB Accredited Business), a payment processing company.

In terms of charities seeking funding from private foundations during these challenging times, a monograph was released today by Leap of Reason Ambassadors, a community of nonprofit thought leaders, practitioners and others “who believe that mission and performance are inextricably linked.”  The monograph titled “Funding Performance: How Great Donors Invest in Grantee Success” provides essays by a number of nonprofit leaders: Hilary Pennington, Ford Foundation; Daniel Stid, Hewlett Foundation;Sam Cobbs, Tipping Point Community; Jeff BradachandJeri Eckhart Queenan, Bridgespan; Lowell Weiss, Leap Ambassadors support team;Hilda Polancoand Deborah Linnell, FMA. The essays in this publication provide recommendations, including, but not limited to:

• achieving better results by viewing the charity/funder relationship as a type of partnership
• correcting the misperception that important change can happen quickly through small, short-term grants
• recognizing the need for funders to provide charities with sufficient indirect-cost reimbursements

It is encouraging to see these innovative approaches and ideas to help charities raise funds. It gives hope that the charitable sector can overcome current difficulties and find ways to grow.

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Steve Queior, CEO of Prader-Willi Syndrome Association, a BBB Accredited Charity that works to to raise awareness, offer support, provide education and advocacy, and promote and fund research to enhance the quality of life of those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome.

 

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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:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• National Park Foundation
• Operation Healing Forces

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

Removing Your Name from Charity Mailing Lists

The vast majority of people contacting us or visiting the Give.org website are seeking out charity reports to make more informed giving decisions. From time to time, however, some ask for help in getting their names removed from charity mailing lists. They may be seeking to reduce their overall volume of charity mail or are annoyed by the number of appeals distributed by the same organization. Whatever the cause, we hope the following will provide some assistance in addressing this issue.

First, as background, please note that direct mail, even during the pandemic, continues to generate the lion’s share of contributions revenue for most of the nationally-soliciting charities on which we report. While online giving continues to grow in popularity, direct mail is the dominating cornerstone of fundraising activity. Nevertheless, here are some ways to reduce unwanted charity mail.

Focus your giving. Charities don’t expect a contribution from everyone. If you donate, even small amounts, to a large number of charities, that will likely increase your charity mail volume. Taking the initiative in selecting the charities you want to help and discarding the rest, can, over time, lead to reduced mail volume.

Inform the charity about appeal preferences. When you make a donation to a charity, let them know, at the time of the contribution, that you don’t want your name shared with any other organization. Also, if you want just one appeal per year, inform the charity about that as well. Most organizations will honor your requests since they want your continuing support.

Register with DMA Choice.  Visit DMAchoice.org and register to have your name removed form mailing lists that subscribe to this service. This will remove your name from both charity and business mailing lists but won’t eliminate all unwanted mail. DMAChoice also offers an email opt out service.

Cautions about sending appeals back to the charity  Some mistakenly believe that writing “return to sender” on charity appeals will help. Actually, the nonprofit postal rate only covers postage in one direction – to your home. If you write that message on the envelope without adding additional postage, the charity will likely not receive it. A better strategy would be to send a note to the organization along with copies of the mailing labels and/or return cards that came with the appeal. This will help them identify where the mailing list came from and how they might remove your name form future mailings.

Contact BBB Wise Giving Alliance. We recommend first contacting the charity directly about mailing list removal using the email and/or the physical address that appears on the charity’s website. If a nationally-soliciting charity does not honor your request to your satisfaction, contact the BBB Wise Giving Alliance by using our online complaint form or writing us at BBB WGA, 3033 Wilson Blvd, Suite 710, Arlington, VA 22201. If your mailing list removal complaint is about a regionally-soliciting charity, contact the Better Business Bureau that serves your area.

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Lisa Gurwitch, President and CEO of Delivering Good, a BBB Accredited Charity that provides donated essential items such as clothing, books, home goods and toys to serve needy children, families and individuals in all 50 states.

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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:

• CHC: Creating Healthier Communities
• Dressember Foundation
• Friendship Force International

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

As 2021 is now in its third week, many of us continue to work towards making new plans and resolutions into a reality. Regarding contributions, this past year has presented challenges and concerns that continue to overlap into our giving choices.  To help address this, we offer the following considerations:

Pandemic Pressures
As the U.S. has reached over 400,000 deaths from Covid-19 and 24 million cases, the pandemic continues to receive our attention. As a result, we need to remember charities, such as food banks, that are responding to the needs of families that struggle due to unemployment or other financial pressures. For the immediate future, these organizations will need our continued support.

Other Charities Need Help
While it may be difficult to imagine a time when the pandemic will be behind us, that should not distract us from helping other charities that are not directly addressing pandemic-related issues. These charities need our support throughout the year as well. Take the time to plan out your giving so that your household does not inadvertently neglect your favorite causes.

Making Choices
Whether you plan on spreading out your generosity to assist a variety of charities addressing different issues, or develop a more focused giving approach, please take time to ensure that the charities you choose are trustworthy and meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Visit our charity reports at Give.org.

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Rev. Steven E. Boes, President & National Executive Director, Boys Town (a BBB Accredited Charity) which seeks “to change the way America cares for children, families and communities by providing and promoting an Integrated Continuum of Care® that instills Boys Town values to strengthen body, mind and spirit.” Boys Town programs range from preventative services in the home to restrictive out-of-home placements for children with severe behavioral and mental health disorders. In between this range are school educational programs, in-home family counseling services, traditional and treatment foster care, short- and long-term family style residential programs and specialized group homes.

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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:

• ICNA Relief USA
• Parkinson’s Foundation
• Relief International

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

A Florida-based veterans charity, Healing Heroes Network, and its former directors reached a settlement yesterday with eleven states (CA, FL, IL, MA, MD, MN, NM, OH, OR, VA, WA) based on allegations of deceptive appeals, including a misleading sweepstakes. Among other things, the organization made false claims in social media that 100% of proceeds would help wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan receive medical treatment not available from the Veterans Administration. Instead very little of the amounts raised went to address this mission. As reported in the 2017 IRS Form 990, Helping Heroes Network spent 13% ($347,519) of total expenses ($2,746,462) on program service activities. This 990 Form also reports that, in 2017, $19,049 of noncash assistance (food, rent, utilities, tablets and medical assistance) was provided to 149 recipients.  The settlement requires the organization and its directors, without admitting to any violation of law, to permanently cease appeals and pay $95,000 to another charity that is closely aligned with its mission. The former directors of the charity are also banned from managing or overseeing a charity for the next five years. (An exception was cited for one director noting he is not prevented from serving on the board of a nonprofit hospital or medical association.) A copy of the California version of the Stipulation for Entry of Judgment and Permanent Injunction can be found here. Healing Heroes Network is also affiliated with a business, Hero Giveaways, which allegedly was formed when the states began investigating Healing Heroes Network. Healing Heroes Network also did business using the names American Injured Veterans, American Injured Veterans Foundation, Injured American Veterans Foundation, Get the Bikes, Harleys for Heroes, Outdoors for Heroes, Tablets for Heroes, and Welcome Home Heroes. To help contributors make wise giving decisions, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice:

• Avoid Mistaken Identity. Some veterans charity names sound alike. Make sure the organization you are considering is the one you want to support.
• Find Out What They Do. Don’t assume what the organization does based on their name alone. Look for a clear description of the charity ‘s programs in its appeals and on its website.
• Be Careful with Phone Appeals. If not managed properly, some telemarketing campaigns for veterans organizations can be an expensive way to raise funds with very little going to the organization. If called, do not hesitate to ask for written information or visit the group’s website to find out about its programs and finances before making a giving decision.
• Watch Out for Excessive Pressure.  Don’t be pressured to make an immediate on-the-spot donation to a veterans organization. Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it.
• Review Sweepstakes Claims Carefully. Be cautious about any sweepstakes that claims or implies the recipient is already a winner. The recipient is unlikely to have won but probably will have a chance among those that respond. For a national direct mail campaign, that might mean hundreds of thousands or millions of sweepstakes letters were distributed. For more tips on this subject click here.
• Ask How Donated Items Will Be Used. Find out how the charity benefits from the collection and resale of used clothing and other in-kind gifts.
• Check Give.org: In addition to charity reports on BBB’s Give.org, check with your state government’s charity registration agency, usually a division of either the Attorney General’s office or Secretary of State’s office. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency.

To find veterans organizations that meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, visit Give.org.

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring an interview with Brent Cooper, Executive Director of Green Beret Foundation (a BBB Accredited Charity) which provides financial assistance, support, and liaison services for wounded, ill and injured members and former members of the Special Forces of the United States Army and their family members

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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:

• National Tuberous Sclerosis Association
• NumbersUSA Education and Research Foundation
• 1% for the Planet

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

Few people enjoy receiving telemarketing calls. No matter what is being offered, they can interrupt and become especially annoying if they become frequent. You might already be aware that the Federal Trade Commission maintains a National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov. By signing up and including your phone number, you can reduce the volume of calls from businesses seeking to sell their services and wares, however, the registry does not apply to charities. Charities are not required to stop calling people on this Do Not Call listing.

Regarding pre-recorded calls, also known as robocalls, FTC rules that took effect in 2009 prohibit most prerecorded telemarketing calls unless the telemarketer has the consumer’s prior written authorization to transmit such calls. This prohibition on robocalls applies to for-profit telemarketing firms calling on behalf of charities. 

Despite these rules, robocall volume continues to grow. In a report adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on December 29, 2020, the Commission noted that combating robocalls was its top priority and issued new requirements that will help further expand robocall blocking efforts. Not only can these calls annoy, but they can “defraud and lead to identify theft.”  The new rules would impact commercial, non-commercial and nonprofit organizations. They now will be required to limit their calls to three per residential number within 30 days. Additional rules have been created for voice service providers to address illegal call sources.

If someone is interested in donating to a charity that is using individual or robocalls to raise funds, BBB Wise Giving Alliance advises donors of the following:

• Don’t succumb to pressure to make an immediate gift decision.
• Get the exact name of the charity, since some names may sound alike.
• Make more informed giving decisions by visiting Give.org. See if there is a report on the subject charity that indicates if they meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
• Visit the charity’s website and see if they provide access to information on their activities, governing board and finances.
• Verify if the charity is registered to solicit in your state. About 40 states have such requirements that are administered by either the Office of the Attorney General or the Office of the Secretary of State.

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring an interview with Miki Jordan, President & CEO of Wayfinder Family Services (a BBB Accredited Charity), which offers services for individuals of all ages with vision loss and, often, additional disabilities through the organization’s early intervention, education, recreation, mental health, workforce readiness and rehabilitation services.

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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:

• Mennonite Disaster Service
• Per Scholas
• TechnoServe

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

 

 

As we wrap our presents this holiday season and provide gifts to family members and other loved ones, we also are mindful of another type of giving — the continuing support of charitable organizations. This time, more than any other in recent memory, seems to be a poignant reminder to be grateful for what we have and to recognize the importance of helping others who are doing all they can to endure a most difficult period. Most do not need to travel far to see evidence of unmet needs and hardship as unemployment and an unrelenting pandemic continue.

It is most fortunate, however, that the U.S is among the most generous countries in the world according to the World Giving Index produced by the Charities Aid Foundation in London. The generosity is not only demonstrated by the volume of giving ($449.64 billion in 2019) but in the overwhelming number of charities, over 1.3 million organizations in the United States. Nevertheless, these accomplishments do not diminish the importance of helping charities now by contributing any amount to the causes we care about.

Charities of all types need help, not only those that are providing direct assistance to those in need. Remember, many organizations are still seeking to recover lost ground for canceled fund raising events and other revenue streams that were impacted by the pandemic. These gifts, in a way, are investments in hope and a commitment to community. No matter what triggers the impulse to give, it is tied to the recognition that there are so many opportunities to help whether it be to donate cash, in-kind goods or volunteer.

Before donors make these contributions, we also hope they will take the time to ensure that they are contributing to trustworthy organizations that meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. This quick step takes just seconds but may help inspire confidence to give even more.

Best wishes to everyone for the holidays.

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Video of the Week

As part of the building trust video series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Kari Rosbeck, President and CEO, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (also known as the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association.) This is a BBB Accredited Charity that supports research into the diagnosis, cause, management, and cure of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The organization also provides individuals with TSC and their families with direct access to information, resources, and specialists experienced in the diagnosis, treatment and management of TSC.

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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:

• American Humane
• Feed The Children
• Government Accountability Project

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