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  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Giving to Charities with Emotion or Reason?

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Giving to Charities with Emotion or Reason?

    In a perfect world, it would make sense to make philanthropic choices solely through sound judgment – always reviewing the facts and circumstances, identifying what the charity is doing to address the specified issue or problem, and seeking out third-party sources such as Give.org, to help verify if the charity is following accepted accountability practices. Sadly, we know that objective reason does not always dominate donation decisions. We react emotionally to disasters, tragedies, and humanitarian needs whether experienced by a large population or your neighbors down the street. Many of us empathize, especially when these circumstances are in the media spotlight, and we are prompted to donate to the featured cause as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this is when donors can be vulnerable to those seeking to take advantage of this generosity. To avoid this dilemma, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice.

    Give yourself time. Impulsive giving does not always generate the best donation choices. If you are being pressured to make an immediate gift, that could be a red flag that something is amiss.

    Recognize there are choices. Diversity is one of philanthropy’s strengths. For any cause or problem, there are usually numerous organizations seeking to address the same issue. Remember, no one is limited to the one charity that has asked for support.

    Be alert to exaggeration. If a charity appears to be overly boasting about its achievements, it would be wise to seek out facts that back up those claims. While some organizations can certainly demonstrate success, it should be based on true results, not just flowery language.

    Emotional motivations can be helpful. Sometimes emotion can bring attention to choices that might otherwise be overlooked. A family member stricken by a rare disease could prompt donations for research to cure a less popular cause. Emotional stories can spotlight these matters, but be careful if emotion is used as a ruse to get one to donate without looking further.

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features a discussion with Gloria Johnson-Cusack, a multifaceted leader with experience spanning the nonprofit sector, government, and business. Gloria shares her journey in service-oriented work, offering insights on finding joy and purpose in philanthropy.

    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.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Animal Shelter Overpopulation

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Animal Shelter Overpopulation

    Animal Shelter Overpopulation

    People love their pets, treat them as family members, and even designate special days to honor them. Monday, August 26th, was National Dog Day which was started twenty years ago by pet expert and advocate Colleen Paige. As reported, she chose August 26th as the date since that was when her family adopted her first dog from a local animal shelter when she was ten. In 2002, the International Fund for Animal Welfare helped start International Cat Day which is celebrated on August 8th to raise awareness about cats and their welfare. Despite this popularity, animal shelters around the U.S. have been experiencing problems with overcrowding. We wanted to note the backstory that led to this circumstance and what a charity donor might do to help address this growing issue.

    During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ASPCA reported that more than 23 million households in the U.S. adopted a pet. That surge in pet ownership, while many were social distancing, emptied out many animal shelters and increased the demand for pet related services from vet visits to pet sitters. Several years later, shelters are seeing that trend reversed. There has been a decline in pet adoptions and some shelters are experiencing overcrowding conditions. According to statistics gathered by Shelter Animals Count, during the first half of this year, 3,118,000 dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues nationwide. While this is actually 5% less than the same period in 2023, only 2.7 million of these dogs and cats had a live outcome. As a result, there is still an increase in the number of animals waiting in shelters. The end result is 322,000 more pets entered the system than left during this period. There are a variety of factors that probably led to this issue including economic conditions in some households, people returning to their offices, and some having less time to care for their pandemic pet adoptions.

    To help address this overpopulation issue at shelters, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips:

    Support your local animal shelters. As there are over 14,000 animal sheltering organizations in the U.S., consider a donation to help support their work, especially when the demands on their resources are greater. Also, consider alternatives to financial support such as volunteering or donating pet food and supplies.

    Adopt a shelter dog or cat. If your household is considering adding a dog or cat to the family, visit an animal shelter to find your new companion.

    Find out about animal food pantries. Animal food pantries are a growing phenomenon. You can contact them to make a financial or pet food donation. Animal shelters may operate these pantries or can direct you to where you can locate them in your community. If your household has financial challenges, consider accessing their pet food, litter, and other resources to help care for your pet.

    Visit Give.org. In addition to charity reports on BBB’s Give.org, check out animal-related charities 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.  Also, registration with a government agency does not signify a government endorsement or recommendation.

    The following are various animal-related charities that meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., BBB Accredited Charities.)

    American Humane

    Animal Legal Defense Fund

    ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

    Friends of Animals

    Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs

    Humane Society of the United States

    Last Chance for Animals

    PetSmart Charities

    RedRover

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Amir Pasic, the Eugene R. Tempel Dean and Professor of Philanthropic Studies at the Indiana University Lily Family School of Philanthropy. This university is the first school devoted to research and teaching about philanthropy.

    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.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Small Business Generosity

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Small Business Generosity

    Small businesses across the country are routinely asked to support a variety of charitable organizations. The causes range from youth sports teams to health charities, from disaster relief appeals to requests from police and firefighter organizations. Most charities requesting gifts from businesses do so in a responsible manner, but there are those who seek to take advantage of their generosity. Since most small businesses will not have specialized staff or resources to manage donation requests, they can sometimes be more vulnerable than larger companies.

    To help small businesses avoid questionable contribution circumstances, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice.

    Check out charities that seek to solicit the public on business property.  For a variety of reasons, small business customers and clients will probably assume that any charity that is permitted to solicit on their property will have been verified by them. This is all the more motivation not to let them down. A small business should visit BBB.org or Give.org to see if they have a report that indicates the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity.)

    Verify the charity’s registration with government agencies.  About 40 of the 50 states in the United States require charities to register, usually with the office of the attorney general or secretary of state. In Canada, businesses can check with the Canada Revenue Agency. Keep in mind that registration does not mean the government agency endorses, approves, or recommends the charity. It does, however, usually signal that the organization has at least completed the necessary paperwork, paid applicable fees, and has submitted necessary financial information to the applicable agency.

    Take steps to manage requests to place donated clothing bins.  If a business is approached about placing a metal clothing donation box near their parking lot or other publicly accessible area, make sure that the name of the charity is clearly identified on the bin along with a statement about how to get additional information, such as a phone number and/or website. The small business owner should ask the charity how the clothing donations will be used. One cannot assume they will be given to the needy. Some donations may be sold to thrift stores, turned into rag bond paper, or a combination of these possibilities. One should also ask how often the bin will be emptied and who can be contacted if the bin is not maintained in an orderly manner. 

    Be cautious with appeals from police and firefighter groups. A small business should not assume that the words “police” or “firefighter” in an organization’s name means the local police force or fire department is involved. Also, watch out for a solicitor’s suggestion (it’s illegal) that your donation will give you “special treatment” from police or firefighters. For more tips on these groups, visit this link.

    Small businesses can focus their support. As a small business may not be able to support all the charities that ask for help, it can consider focusing on the company’s giving. For example, it might select a theme such as homeless shelters or a favored environmental charity, and direct its donation activities to those selected cause(s). This pro-active decision can help build special relationships with charities that lead to larger community recognition for this charitable activity.

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Kimberly Callinan, President and CEO of Compassion & Choices (a BBB Accredited Charity.) She challenges listeners to consider how facing death head-on can profoundly impact the way we live, while also exploring the legal and ethical landscape of end-of-life choices in America.

    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.

     

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: The 500th Post!

    Wise Giving Wednesday: The 500th Post!

    The 500th Wise Giving Wednesday Post!

    500 is a huge milestone to achieve. BBB Wise Giving Alliance is proud to note that over nine years ago, Wise Giving Wednesday began on January 14, 2015. The vast majority of topics focused on building trust for both donors and charities. Trust is of essential importance to contributors in their giving decisions. It is also reflected in our organization’s stated mission of strengthening public confidence in charities by promoting wise giving and trustworthy charity practices.  Looking back over the thousands of words cumulatively written for this feature, we found some common themes and lessons that we would like to share below.

    Be mindful of overly emotional giving decisions. Many of us are compelled to immediately help those in need, especially after tragedies impacting a large population. That’s understandable but we need to remember that is when we can be most vulnerable to questionable solicitors. Taking the time to check out charities before you donate is one of the best things you can do to avoid trouble and help ensure your generosity will achieve the results you expect.

    Disasters create giving opportunities. With each passing year, disasters appear to occur more frequently. Two points of advice are worth repeating on this subject. Giving to charities experienced in addressing the type of needed relief can help speed assistance. But it is also important to remember that there are long-term recovery needs that welcome support. Sadly, these are sometimes overlooked by donors.

    Standards provide a valuable benchmark. Initially, Wise Giving Wednesday explained how we implement the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability in our evaluative reports on charities. These standards continue to play a key role in our work in strengthening trust. We encourage both donors and charities to learn about these guidelines so they can better understand our approach to reporting.

    Visit the Heart of Giving Podcast for a Deeper Dive. By coincidence, the Heart of Giving Podcast hosted by Art Taylor, BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s President & CEO, is also having an anniversary. This past week the podcast featured its 200th program. Listen to these detailed interviews to learn more about giving and other aspects of philanthropy.

    Sample our improved information access. Take a moment to sample our new AskGive.org AI tool that appears on our homepage. This is an interactive digital window that uses information contained in this website, such as all 500 Wise Giving Wednesday posts, all 200 Heart of Giving Podcasts, and accesses them to provide answers and advice to your giving questions.

    Adapt to future giving. As philanthropy and charity accountability evolve, we will continue to harness our experience and commitment to further help your donation choices and strengthen public confidence in charities. Thank you for your continuing interest.

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast represents our 200th episode of the podcast and features an interview with Dr. Helene Gayle, President, Spelman College, who was our very first podcast guest. In this return visit, she discusses her journey to become a leader in philanthropy and education. She emphasizes the importance of giving back and creating positive social change.

    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.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Donating to Help Those Impacted by Tropical Storm Debby

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Donating to Help Those Impacted by Tropical Storm Debby

    Donating to Help Those Impacted by Tropical Storm Debby

    As Hurricane Debby, which evolved into Tropical Storm Debby, continues to rain down on the Southeastern United States, many communities brace for strong winds and major flooding, especially parts of South Carolina, Georgia, and North Florida. As of this morning, the storm is moving northward. For those seeking to help those in need by making charitable contributions, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice.

    • Find groups that can provide fast assistance. See if the disaster relief charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless they already have staff there, it may be difficult to provide quick assistance. Check if their website describes how they can address immediate needs.
    • Be cautious about in-kind assistance. 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.
    • Impacted families will seek shelter and immediate needs. Many individuals in flooded 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.
    • Remember the phases of disaster relief.  Keep in mind that each disaster has both immediate and long-term needs. There will be many opportunities to provide help. After a major flood event, clean up activities will likely present a major challenge.
    • 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.

    The following BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) are engaged in activities to assist Tropical Storm Debby relief efforts. This list will be updated as additional efforts come to our attention.

    American Red Cross – Debby Relief Activities

    Direct Relief  – Debby Relief Activities

    Salvation Army  –  Debby Relief Activities

    Save the Children – Debby Relief Activities

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Robert Fersh, Founder and Senior Advisor, Convergence Center for Policy Resolution. This organization seeks to bring together diverse stakeholders to find common ground on contentious issues like healthcare, incarceration reform, and education.

    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.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Taylor Swift’s Food Bank Donations

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Taylor Swift’s Food Bank Donations



    Last week, The Chronicle of Philanthropy featured an article about Taylor Swift’s donations to food banks during her Eras concert tour. As reported, her cumulative donations resulted in hundreds of thousands of meals being available to various food banks in the cities and communities where the shows took place. This generosity was certainly appreciated and applauded by the recipient organizations. Unfortunately, it only begins to address the continuing and growing needs being met by food banks across the country.

    According to Feeding America (a BBB Accredited Charity), their network of food banks distributed the equivalent of 5.3 million meals during 2023. They “work with food companies and farmers to supply food banks with food that would otherwise go to waste”  Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap shows that during 2022 overall food insecurity in the United States was experienced by over 44,151,000 people including children. This insecurity is defined as people not having enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.

    Contributing factors to food insecurity include unemployment, food prices, and poverty. Disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and wildfires also contribute to spikes in food insecurity in various areas. Food insecurity also has become an international need. For example, a New Zealand food bank network reported that over a third of monthly recipients never sought their assistance before.

    Donors seeking to follow Taylor Swift’s example, can consider making their own monetary donations to food banks or perhaps donating nonperishable food, such as canned or boxed food. In addition, food banks welcome volunteers to carry out their work such as distributing food to needy families. This might involve anything from sorting donations to driving a truck for deliveries. 

    As costs rise, some areas are even experiencing the development of pet food banks to help pet owners that face financial hardships.

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Elvia Castro, BBB WGA’s Associate Director, Charity Evaluation. Elvia discusses highlights of the latest Donor Trust Report which features a survey of more than 2,100 adults in the United States and more than 1,000 adults in Canada, that explores public positions and expectations related to a selection of charity accountability themes, including oversight, charity finances, impact, solicitation materials, artificial intelligence, and data security.
     

    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.

     

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Perception of AI-Generated Charity Appeals

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Perception of AI-Generated Charity Appeals

    Earlier this year, a Google survey found that more than half of nonprofits use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for some tasks, and that four in five nonprofits think AI may be applicable to their work. As many charities continue to grapple with effective and ethical ways to use AI to further their missions, our Give.org Special Donor Trust Report on Charity Accountability shows that potential donors can be skeptical about the use of AI in solicitation materials.

    When asked to imagine charity appeals including AI-generated images, most participants (55%) say they would be discouraged from giving if they knew the appeal was not verified for accuracy by a staff member. Importantly, participants with a household income of $200,000 or more are most likely (70%) to be discouraged from giving based on a charity solicitation appeal including an AI-generated image.

    When asked to imagine a charity using artificial intelligence (AI) in its information and solicitation materials, Millennials were most likely to report a very positive (32%) or positive (25%) reaction, considering AI a sign of innovation or a modern tool. This finding suggests that use of AI in solicitation materials can be appealing to some constituents.

    AI has vast implications for supporter engagement, donor privacy, charity programs, and much more, but our findings suggest that charities should be cautious not to throw off potential supporters who might be skeptical about the accuracy of information materials produces with AI. 

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Bennie Johnson, CEO, American Marketing Association. Bennie discusses the art, science, and magic of marketing and how charities can strategize marketing their brand.

    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.
  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Concerns About Charity Data Privacy

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Concerns About Charity Data Privacy

    Public Concerns About Charity Data Privacy

    With increasing frequency, we hear about data breaches at nationally known brands such as the recently announced exposure of AT&T phone records from 2022 as reported on July 12th in the New York Times. Public concern about data privacy, however, is not confined to just the business community.  As shown in our recently released Give.org Special Donor Trust Report on Charity Accountability, when asked to consider the importance of assessing seven different accountability elements, 61% of survey participants ranked adequately protecting donor information as the third most important issue.

    Further, when asked to imagine that a charity they personally support appears in the news for being hacked and having data stolen, 22.5% say they would no longer donate, and another 51.7% say would hold off on donating until they are satisfied that the issue is resolved.

    • Across generations, more than 1 in 5 people (between 21.0% for Millennials and 24.1% for Gen Zers) say they would no longer donate to the charity upon learning that the charity had been hacked and data had been stolen.

    • Among participants who would no longer give or would withhold donations until they feel satisfied that the issue is resolved, the following actions could inspire confidence to give again: the charity sending a message informing donors of new data security improvements (27.8%), the charity updating its privacy policy online describing improved security measures (26.8%), and verification from a third party that data is secure (26.0%).

    • After a data breach, Gen Zers and Millennials are most likely to give again once they receive a message informing them of new data security improvements (31.6% and 33.2%) or based on updates to the privacy policy showing improved security measures (31.3% and 33.3%). Matures, Boomers, and Gen Xers are most likely to respond to verification from a third party that data is secure (29.4%, 30.4%, and 29.9% respectively).

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Stanfort Perry who leads three organizations (AHRC Nassau, Brookville Center for Children’s Services, and Citizens Options Unlimited) that provide various support services in Nassau County, New York to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

    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.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Perceptions of Charity Impact

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Perceptions of Charity Impact

    Public Perceptions of Charity Impact

    While it is a common assumption that donors want to support highly impactful organizations, our recently released Give.org Special Donor Trust Report on Charity Accountability, shows that the donating public does not have a clear understanding of what the term means. Interestingly, wealthier participants are most likely to say they know the meaning of impact and to disagree about the correct definition. For example, among participants with household income above $200K who report knowing the meaning of impact, 23% chose “how efficient the organization was in its spending,” 23% selected “achievement numbers,” and only 20% selected “the overall change or outcome brought by the charity’s programs in accordance with its stated mission.”

    Respondents indicated that both immediate and long-term results are important, but more respondents said long-term results are highly important (46.0%) than said the same for immediate results (23.9%). Similarly, most individuals say they value high-quality programs more than high volume programs. Long-term results and high-quality programs are especially important among lower-income survey takers. For example, almost half (48.1%) of participants with household incomes below $70K assign high importance to long-term results, as compared to only 1 in 4 (24.9%) assigning high importance to immediate results.

    Our results suggest there is leeway in how impact is communicated. Ultimately, charities should be clear in how they define their own impact and take comfort in knowing that people care about long-term results and quality programs.  Additional insights on how the public perceives charity impact can be found in the 2021 Donor Trust Report. The previous report also indicated that the public does not have a clear understanding of the term “charity impact.”

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Natalie Samarjian, President & CEO, Coro Southern California. Coro’s mission is “to strengthen the democratic process by preparing emerging leaders for effective and ethical leadership.” Some of their activities include board and executive leadership training and a youth fellows program for high school students.

    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.

  • Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Priorities on Charity Accountability

    Wise Giving Wednesday: Public Priorities on Charity Accountability

    Public Priorities on Charity Accountability

    On Monday, July 1st, BBB Wise Giving Alliance released the Give.org Special Donor Trust Report on Charity Accountability, exploring public positions and expectations related to a selection of charity accountability themes, including charity oversight, finances, impact, solicitation materials, artificial intelligence, and data security. Those interested in a quick read might appreciate the coverage by The Chronicle of Philanthropy or The NonProfit Times.

    When asked to consider the importance of assessing 7 different accountability elements, survey participants said they would most value: an independent review of how the charity spends its money (76%); whether the charity’s appeals are truthful, accurate, and not misleading (73%); and whether the charity adequately protects donor information (61%). Truthful communications and adequate data protection were more frequently chosen as “very important” than aspects like measurement and communication of charity achievements (57%) and adequate board oversight over staff and operations (55%). In an age of distrust, misinformation, and data vulnerability, our survey shows that truthful and accurate communication, and adequate protection of donor information, have become top public priorities. For more, please visit the Donor Trust Report.

    Given that individual donors make up the bulk of charitable contributions in the United States, and that public engagement with charities has been in decline, public voices on charity trust are as important as ever. This 4th of July is a good opportunity to reflect on how charities offer each of us a way to make a difference.

    Heart of Giving Podcast

    This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features Leah Henck, President, Freedom Firm USA. After she completed her MBA from Regent University, she joined her husband, an attorney, in India. Together they spent the next seven years serving with Freedom Firm to end child sex trafficking in India. Upon returning to the U.S., Leah continued to support these anti-trafficking efforts as Freedom Firm USA’s President.

    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.