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  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Building Trust Part 3

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Building Trust Part 3

    Governance & Oversight – Board Member Compensation

    For the board of directors to properly guide a publicly-soliciting charity, provide oversight and assist in the decision-making process, its voting members should be focused on advancing the charity’s mission and avoid any influence that may cloud their judgment.

    That is why the fourth standard in the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability has recommended limits on the number of voting board members who receive compensation – may it be monetary or nonmonetary, direct or indirect (for purposes of this standard, board member reimbursement for travel expenses to attend board meetings is not considered compensation).

    An example of a directly-compensated board member would be a paid charity staff member (such as the CEO) who also serves as a voting member of the board. An indirectly-compensated board member circumstance would take place if a voting member of the board was the spouse, sibling, parent or child of a paid staff member.

    To meet Standard 4, not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) of the total voting membership of the board should be directly or indirectly compensated. Also, if a board member receives compensation, that person should not serve as the chair or treasurer. For example, if a charity has seven board members, no more than one voting member should be compensated. If a charity has 20 board members, no more than two voting board members should be compensated.

    Publicly-soliciting churches and other houses of worship with compensated clergy serving on their board of directors should see additional details in the online explanation for this standard for further information on how this standard applies to them.

    By ensuring that voting board members are free of financial interest, the board is better positioned to exercise independent judgment.

    Take a look at BBB charity reports to see if your charity of choice meets this important standard. For an A-Z directory of reports on nationally-soliciting charities, visit www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/. To access both local and national charity reports, use the search engine on our homepage www.give.org.

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

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Matching Gifts Should Match

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Matching Gifts Should Match

    If a child, who already has a bicycle, asks his/her parents for a new flashy model, they might prompt the child to help make that happen: “If you save enough for a third of the cost of the new bike, we’ll take care of the rest.”  This simple story is the essence of the matching gift appeal concept in philanthropy.  There is a promise made of a future gift, if the charity is able to raise a designated amount. 

    In accounting terms, this is called a conditional gift − a future contribution that is dependent on the gifts of others. As stated in the AICPA Audit & Accounting Guide for Not-for-Profit Entities (2016 edition, paragraph 6.53), “Conditional transfers are not contributions yet; they may become contributions upon the occurrence of one or more future and uncertain events.” 

    Most of us have seen various types of matching gift appeals. For example, a public television station airs a fundraiser that announces that a generous viewer has pledged to match all contributions made during the next fifteen minutes or a direct mail appeal declares that a wealthy donor has pledged to make a $100,000 gift if the charity is able to raise at least an equivalent amount in the campaign. In both cases, there is some uncertainty. For the public station, their total gift tally during a certain time period is difficult to predict and a charity does not have a guarantee that it will be able to raise a certain amount for any direct mail campaign. 

    On occasion, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance has seen circumstances where a charity’s statements during a matching gift fundraiser, do not appear to meet the true definition of a conditional gift, as described above. As an example, a charity sends out an appeal that asks contributors to “match” a specified amount it raised from other donors. This is actually more of a “challenge grant.” The ability to use the original gift is not contingent on raising more money, rather, the original gift is seeking to inspire other givers to repeat the generosity. In such cases, charities need to be careful about what words it uses to describe the circumstance so as not to confuse or potentially mislead donors into believing their gift won’t be “doubled” unless they raise an equivalent amount. 

    So, the next time you see an appeal that claims it is part of a matching gift campaign, look at the appeal carefully and see if it is described as a true conditional gift.  If you have any doubt, ask the charity to clarify.  Misleading appeals will not meet Standard 15 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. 

    As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video of Monica Woods, Vice President of Solar Cookers International (a BBB Accredited Charity), an organization that designs and distributes free zero-emission solar thermal cookers worldwide.  These cookers help reduce air pollution and serve as an alternative for people who live in extreme poverty. 

    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

  • Hurricane Patricia Donation Tips

    Hurricane Patricia Donation Tips

    In anticipation of Hurricane Patricia that is expected to hit the Pacific coast of Mexico, BBB Wise Giving Alliance urges donors to consider the following tips so they might avoid questionable appeals or poorly managed efforts that are likely to emerge in the storm’s wake.  

    BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers donors these tips for disaster relief giving:  

    Be cautious when giving online.  Be cautious about spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization. If you want to give to a charity involved in relief efforts, go directly to the charity’s website.  In response to Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake, the FBI and others raised concerns about websites and new organizations that were created overnight, allegedly to help victims. 

    Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity.  Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other websites, as they may not have fully researched the relief organizations they list. The public can go to www.give.org to research relief organizations and other charities to verify that they are accredited by the BBB which means they meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.  

    Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims.  Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fund raising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting earthquake victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fund raising and administrative expenses.  It may use some of its other funds to pay these costs, but the expenses will still be incurred. 

    Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas.  Unless the charity already has staff in the affected areas, it may be difficult to bring in new aid workers to provide assistance quickly.  See if the charity’s website clearly describes what the charity can do to address immediate needs. 

    Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups.  Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations.  If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to those that have a presence in the region. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to see whether they are equipped to provide aid effectively. 

    Gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations.  In-kind drives for food and clothing, while well intentioned, may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need – unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to distribute such aid properly. Ask the charity about its transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance. 

    ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB WGA) is a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally-soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, effectiveness reporting, finances, fund raising, appeal accuracy, and other issues. Learn more about the 20 BBB Charity Standards and about local charity review at local Better Business Bureaus at Give.org 

    MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Katherine Hutt at khutt@council.bbb.org or Bennett Weiner at bweiner@council.bbb.org.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: The Summer Heat and Firefighting Organizations

    Wise Giving Wednesday: The Summer Heat and Firefighting Organizations

    The summer heat wave is hitting parts of the United States with wildfires in California and especially across Arizona where temperatures have exceeded 115 degrees. As these events unfold, I am reminded of the hardships endured by firefighters seeking to control these blazes. Public sympathy for these brave public servants has always been high but these challenging fires certainly place a spotlight on their important role.  So, it is no wonder why the donating public responds generously when approached to support firefighter and police organizations.  Unfortunately, questionable solicitors seeking to take advantage of this public sympathy, have also been a continuing cause of frustration as well.  To help avoid potential pitfalls, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers this advice. 

    • Don’t assume that the words “firefighter or “police” in an organization’s name means your local police force or fire department is involved. 
    • Ask for specifics about the programs your donation would support. Appeals are sometimes vague on this point.
    • Don’t be pressured into giving on the spot. Sympathy for the cause is no reason to forgo checking out the charity.
    • Don’t believe the suggestion (it’s illegal) that your donation will give you “special treatment” from firefighters or police.
    • Telemarketing, used by many police and fire organizations, can be costly. If solicited by phone, ask for financial information that will enable you to check this out.
    • Don’t assume that your contribution will be tax deductible as a charitable gift. Police and firefighter organizations may be of many types, not all with the same deductibility status.
    • See if the Better Business Bureau in your area has a report about the organization.

    On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide the following video that features Chuck Scofield, Chief Development Officer of Share Our Strength (a BBB Accredited Charity.)  Among other things, Share Our Strength carries out a No Kid Hungry campaign that seeks to engage the public to make ending child hunger a national priority.

    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

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Government Actions Shut Down Two Charities for Misleading Appeals

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Government Actions Shut Down Two Charities for Misleading Appeals

    On March 28, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with the Attorneys General in Florida and Missouri announced settlements with two charities that were accused of distributing misleading appeals.

    The Federal Trade Commission and the Missouri Attorney General announced a settlement (U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Missouri, Case No. 4:19-cv-00667) that bans the Disabled Police and Sheriffs Foundation (DPSF) and its Founder and Executive Director, David Kenik, from soliciting charitable contributions. The announcement indicated that the reason for doing so, in part, was for “falsely claiming that consumers’ donations would be used to help police officers and families of slain officers, providing life-saving equipment to law enforcement agencies, and provide advanced, specialized training for law enforcement officers and departments.” The FTC announcement states that from the years 2013-2016, the average spending reported by DPSF showed that of every $100 spent, only $5.41 actually went to program services. DPSF’s conduct is reported to have violated sections of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. A monetary judgment of $9.9 million has been imposed, with all but $100,000 of this amount suspended due to an inability to pay. According to the FTC’s press release: “The money paid will go to one or more legitimate charities that actually assist disabled police and sheriffs, as recommended by the state of Missouri and approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.”

    In addition, the FTC and the Florida Attorney General announced a settlement (U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, Case No. 8:19-cv-744-T-33TGW) that bans the American Veterans Foundation and its President, Paul K. Monville, from soliciting charitable contributions. The announcement indicated that the reason for doing so, in part, was for “deceptively claiming the consumers’ donations would be used for specific charitable purposes, including care packages for deployed service members, immediate assistance to veterans facing homelessness, and counseling.” According to AVF’s 2017 IRS Form 990, the organization raised $2,766,198 in revenue, with all but $1,033 of those monies being in the form of contributions, gifts, and grants. The organization’s expenses for the same year totaled $2,704,152, with $2,295,573 (85%) spent on fundraising expenses, $209,096 (8%) spent on administrative expenses, and $199,483 (7%) spent on program expenses, which amounts to 7 cents for every dollar raised. AVF’s conduct is reported to have violated sections of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and Florida’s Solicitation of Contributions Act. A monetary judgment of $6,584,282 has been imposed, with all but $105,000 being suspended. According to the settlement, “This sum will be paid to a Nonprofit Organization as a Charitable Contribution. . . following subsequent motion by the Florida Attorney General and order of this Court.”

    In previous years, the public asked the BBB Wise Giving Alliance about both of these charities. As a result, BBB WGA sent multiple written requests for information but the organizations did not provide any of the materials. The following are links to the BBB WGA reports on these groups: Disabled Police and Sheriffs Foundation, American Veterans Foundation. 

    One similar element of both of the above government actions is that they involved charities engaged in telemarketing as the principal fundraising method. In both instances, the fundraising contracts with the charity involved 80 percent or more of the collected funds going to the telemarketers. As noted above, misleading statements were made by the solicitors. Telemarketing can help charities raise money but, in the wrong hands, it also can be a tool to commit fraud. For additional tips on telephone appeals, see the following link.

    Video of the Week

    As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Cyndi Zagieboylo, President and CEO, of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (a BBB Accredited Charity ) which funds research into the causes, treatments, and a cure of MS. The organization also provides education and support to people with MS, their families and caregivers; provides education and training for healthcare professionals who treat people living with MS; and provides direct financial assistance to people living with multiple sclerosis. 

    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

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Philanthropy Provides Lessons for Effective Dorian Relief

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Philanthropy Provides Lessons for Effective Dorian Relief

    Problems addressed by philanthropy sometimes involve valuable lessons that can be applied to other situations. Today’s blog seeks to identify elements of Hurricane Dorian relief that might benefit from this comparative analysis.

    Quick Fix, Not Always Available. When heart-wrenching situations occur, we often seek a quick fix. We want the bad thing resolved. In philanthropy, quick fixes are often not an option. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, usually require long term recovery needs as well as emergency assistance. For example, both Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Islands need emergency assistance but also will have long term recovery needs that will likely take years to complete, and even then, things likely won’t be the same.

    Circumstances Can Be Unpredictable. When problems are addressed by philanthropy, unpredictable elements are often encountered. The best approaches always involve some degree of flexibility to succeed. Just because we have seen previous hurricane patterns of behavior does not mean that one can predict with pinpoint accuracy how intense the storm will be and where it will make landfall. As we have seen with Dorian, the circumstances can change rapidly or slow to a snail’s pace.

    Solutions Often Involve Complexity. A simple solution offered to a problem facing society often does not adequately take into account the full range of circumstances. Solutions often require significant effort from many different participants. This is reflected in natural disasters as well. No single charitable organization can address all of a population’s needs in the wake of a hurricane, it will take the cooperation of multiple charities to succeed.

    Planning Not to Surrender. While the above might cause some to abandon the attempt to address such a huge challenge, it can inspire to make even better plans to succeed. Being aware of pitfalls can provide a better roadmap to help. This is one of the reasons we recommend to donors  that they contribute to experienced disaster relief charities who already know what problems to avoid and how to prepare to assist those in need with greater efficiency.

    For those seeing additional advice on Hurricane Dorian relief, see our previous blog and remember to verify if your selected disaster relief organization meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability visit Give.org.

    Video of the Week

    As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Angie Lawry, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (a BBB Accredited Charity), which works to increase awareness about the importance of early detection of colorectal cancer.  The organization also offers a patient support team that provides hope and support to individuals and their family members affected by colon cancer.

    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

  • Tips on Giving to Organizations Raising Funds for Immigration Issues

    Tips on Giving to Organizations Raising Funds for Immigration Issues

    In response to public concerns about immigrant children and adults being detained in compounds near the Mexico/Texas border or transported to other locations, many people are seeking ways to help in any way possible. Sadly, scammers often take advantage of these moments of vulnerability to deceive donors. In addition, there are often campaigns set up by well-meaning individuals who may not be able to carry out their promised activities.

    BBB Wise Giving Alliance urges donors to give thoughtfully and avoid those seeking to take advantage of the generosity of others. Here are BBB WGA’s tips for trusted giving:

    1. Thoughtful Giving: Take the time to check out the charity to avoid wasting your generosity by donating to a questionable or poorly managed effort. The first request for a donation may not be the best choice. Be proactive and find trusted charities that are providing assistance. Visit Give.org to verify if a charity meets the BBB Standards for Charitable Accountability.

    2. Crowdfunding: While some crowdfunding sites have taken significant measures to help prevent fraudulent postings, other crowdfunding sites do very little vetting of individuals who decide to post for assistance after a tragedy.  As a result,it is often difficult for donors to verify the trustworthiness of crowdfunding requests for support. For more Give.org tips on crowdfunding, check out this Wise Giving Wednesday post. 

    3. Getting permission to use charity names: Individuals that decide to raise funds on behalf of an organization addressing immigrant issues should get permission from the subject charity before doing so.

    4. Be cautious about in-kind fundraising.  Some individuals or organizations may raise funds to distribute in-kind assistance (such as clothing, televisions, toys, etc.) to immigrants in detention centers. Unless advance arrangements have been made to provide access for such distributions, solicitors may not be able to fulfill such well-intended promises.  

    5. Government Registration: About 40 of the 50 states in the U.S. require charities to register with a state government agency (usually a division of the State Attorney General’s office) before they solicit for charitable gifts. If the charity is not registered, that may be a significant red flag. In Canada, all charitable organizations must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. If an organization is claiming to be a charity and they aren’t registered with the CRA, that’s a red flag.

    6. How Will Donations Will Be Used? Watch out for vague appeals that don’t identify the intended use of funds. For example, how will the donations help immigrant children and their families? Also, unless told otherwise, donors will assume that funds collected quickly in the wake of a tragedy will be spent just as quickly. See if the appeal identifies when the collected funds will be used.

    7. Advocacy Organizations: The immigration issues can generate requests from a variety of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle. Donors can support these efforts as well, but note that some of these advocacy groups are not tax exempt as charities. Also, watch out for newly-created advocacy groups that will be difficult to check out.

    8. Online Caution: Never click on links to charities on unfamiliar websites or in text messages or email. These may take you to a look-alike website where you will be asked to provide personal financial information, or may download harmful malware onto your computer. Don’t assume that charity recommendations on social media have already been vetted.

    9. Financial Transparency: After funds are quickly raised in reaction to public concern, it is even more important for organizations to provide an accounting of how funds were spent. Transparent organizations will post this information on their websites so that anyone can find out without having to wait until the audited financial statements are available sometime in the future.

    10. Newly-Created v. Established Organizations: This is a personal giving choice, but an established charity will more likely have the experience to quickly address the circumstances and have a track record that can be evaluated. A newly-formed organization may be well-meaning, but will be difficult to check out and may not be well managed.

    11. Tax Deductibility: Not all organizations collecting funds in the U.S. to address immigration issues are tax exempt as charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donors can support these other entities, but keep this in mind if they want to take a deduction for federal income tax purposes. You can check a U.S. organization’s tax status here. In Canada, only specific types of registered charities are able to provide tax receipts. If you are not sure whether your donation would be eligible for a tax credit, contact the Charities Directorate at 1-800-267-2384. You can also search for information on which organizations can issue official donation receipts here. 

     

    ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally-soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, effectiveness reporting, finances, fund raising, appeal accuracy, and other issues. Learn more about the 20 BBB Charity Standards and about local charity review at local Better Business Bureaus at Give.org.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Accountability Anniversary

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Accountability Anniversary

    Next month (March 23rd), will be the 19th anniversary of operating under the name “BBB Wise Giving Alliance.”  Our history, however, extends back more than 100 years. Since the 1920s, we operated under previous names, such as Philanthropic Advisory Service, as part of the national office of the Better Business Bureau. In 2001, this charity reporting program merged with the National Charities Information Bureau which began in 1918 as the first organization in the nation to establish charity accountability standards. Both charity reporting entities had a shared mission of helping donors make wise giving decisions and both completed reports on nationally soliciting charities using a broad set of standards that addressed governance, finances, and transparency issues. We are proud to continue this legacy of helping to educate the donating public. Our long history has not only provided valuable experience in addressing charity accountability but helped shape our understanding of the some of the fundamental issues that have grown in importance.

    Donors Seek Giving Guidance.

    The charitable sector has grown dramatically over the decades. There are now over 1 million organizations that are tax-exempt as charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. While this reflects the diversity of new ideas and approaches to problems and causes, this growth also results in more challenging choices for donors seeking to make informed giving decisions. It has also provided more incentive for them to check out organizations before they make a contribution.

    Standards Matter.

    While the increased availability of charity data and information online has certainly helped donors, many donors also recognize the value of having accountability standards to help provide a benchmark and also provide guidance for charities in identifying expectations of ethical behavior. In addition, BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s broad-based approach to accountability in addressing far more than just finances has demonstrated to be a successful tool in fulfilling this objective.

    Verifying Charity Trustworthiness.  

    When individuals contribute to charities they are placing their trust in the organization to carry out the announced program services the charity has described. Donor expectations, however, go beyond just an interest in a charity achieving results, they also want organizations to carry out their activities with transparency, oversight and integrity. They want charities to be honest and accurate in their representations and appeals for support. We believe one of the most effective ways of addressing this is verifying if the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. We accomplish this through the reports we produce on charities which specify if a charity meets these standards. There is no charge to charities for this assessment and the reports have free access on Give.org.

    Video of the Week

    As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Mitchel Rosenzweig, Chief Financial Officer of the Jewish National Fund (a BBB Accredited Charity) which promotes, educates and advocates for community and environmental issues surrounding Israel and the world. Among other things, it plants trees in the desert, builds parks, creates new communities, bolsters Israel’s water supply, and helps develop arid-agriculture techniques.

    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

     

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Phishing Scam Mimics BBB Complaint

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Phishing Scam Mimics BBB Complaint

    Cybersecurity is a concern for everyone in philanthropy. And, the Better Business Bureau name, like other well-known entities, is not immune to being abused by scammers. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance and BBBs are warning charities, donors as well as businesses, that the BBB name and logo are being fraudulently used by criminals in an on-going phishing scam. The emails look very much like notice of a complaint from BBB, but contain links to malware that can infect the recipient’s computer or steal passwords.

    If you get an email that looks like it is a BBB complaint:

    1. Do NOT click on any links or attachments.
    2. Read the email carefully for signs that it may be fake (for example, misspellings, grammatical errors, generic greetings such as “Dear member” instead of a name, etc.).
    3. Be wary of urgent instructions to take specified action such as “Click on the link or your account will be closed.”
    4. Hover your mouse over links without clicking to see if the address is truly from bbb.org. The URL in the text should match the URL that your mouse detects. If the two do not match, it is most likely a scam.
    5. Send a copy of the email to phishing@council.bbb.org (Note: This address is only for scams that use the BBB name or logo)
    6. Delete the email from your computer completely (be sure to empty your “trash can” or “recycling bin,” as well).
    7. Run anti-virus software updates frequently and do a full system scan.
    8. Keep a close eye on your bank statements for any unexpected or unexplained transactions.
    9. If you have clicked on any of the links within the email, immediately change your email and network passwords AND notify your local IT provider for next steps and actions.

    If you are not certain whether the complaint is legitimate, contact your local BBB: bbb.org/bbb-locator

    BBB is working with law enforcement as well as a private deactivation firm to shut down as many criminal websites as possible. To date, we have shut down well over 100 sites. For additional tips on cybersecurity visit: https://www.bbb.org/council/for-businesses/cybersecurity/ 

    As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video that features Lindsay Groff, Executive Director, Barth Syndrome Foundation, a BBB Accredited Charity, which seeks to expand, curate and disseminate scientific and medical information about Barth syndrome which is a genetic disorder that impacts various body systems including the heart and muscles.  

    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

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Philanthropy Experts & Leaders Gather in Cape Coral

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Philanthropy Experts & Leaders Gather in Cape Coral

    Guest Blog by Michael Chatman, President & CEO, Cape Coral Community Foundation 

    BBB Wise Giving Alliance President & CEO Art Taylor and Cape Coral Community Foundation President & CEO Michael Chatman hosted the Philanthropy Experts and Leaders Academy on April 23 – 25 at the Westin Hotel in Cape Coral, Florida.  Art Taylor gave a presentation about how the future can and should be part of thought leadership and brand strategy. Michael Chatman shared how he built #whyigive, the popular global generosity movement on Twitter with over 300,000 followers. The academy was limited to 25 people. It was a nice blend of philanthropy thought-leaders, foundation executives, social entrepreneurs, and CEOs of nonprofit organizations. 

    Other highlights from the gathering of experts and leaders included: 

    • Mary Wong, President and CEO, Office Depot Foundation, shared her personal story of perseverance and the lessons she’s learned through her 20-year career in corporate social responsibility.
    • Henry Timms, Executive Director of 92 nd Street Y and Founder, #GivingTuesday, explained how to understand new power and harness its energy – and lessons learned from #GivingTuesday, a global philanthropic movement.
    • Chad Barr, President, The Chad Barr Group, shared his thoughts on how to build a million-dollar web presence. During his presentation, he discussed the critical areas that can be immediately enhanced to emphasize credibility and instantly build trust among visitors.
    • Val Porter-Cook, Leadership Development Advisor, explored why self-awareness is so important when coaching is the best leadership development tool, and how organizations can make strategic and outcome-based investments in that work.
    • Carrie Fox, Founder and President, Mission Partners, ran the audience through a series of thought-provoking exercises designed to help distill an organization’s “why” in a way that inspires others to act. 

    The Cape Coral Community Foundation, the global center for generosity, was proud to co-sponsor this event with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and thanks the speakers and leaders who attended the academy. 

    As part of our Building Trust Video series, BBB WGA is pleased to provide a video of David Snell, President and Co-Founder, Fuller Center for Housing (a BBB Accredited Charity) which is a faith-driven organization that builds new homes and repairs existing homeowner properties in partnership with families in need.  

    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.