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This week, some will honor Veterans Day by donating to charities that address a variety of issues and needs facing veterans, military service members and/or their families. (In Canada, November 11^th is recognized as Remembrance Day) BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice, to help contributors make wise giving decisions:

• Avoid Name Similarity Confusion. Some veterans charities include the same words in different order or slightly different form. So, be alert and make sure the organization you are considering is the one you want to support.
• Find Out What They Do. Don’t assume what the veterans organization does based on their name alone. Look for a clear description of the organization’s programs in its appeals and on its website.
• Be Cautious 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.
• Ask How Donated Items Will Benefit the Group. Find out how the charity benefits from the collection and resale of used clothing and other in-kind gifts. Sometimes the charity receives only a small portion of the resale price of the item or may have a contractual arrangement to get a flat fee for every household pick-up, no matter what the contents.
• Visit 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.

This list shows veterans and military service charities that meet all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., BBB Accredited Charities.) Click on the report links to access reports on each group.

• America’s VetDogs – The Veteran’s K-9 Corps
• Blinded Veterans Association
• Blue Star Families
• Boot Campaign
• Boulder Crest Retreat Foundation
• Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
• Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation
• Coast Guard Foundation
• Corporate America Supports You
• Disabled American Veterans
• EOD Warrior Foundation
• Green Beret Foundation
• Homes for Our Troops
• K9s for Warriors
• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
• Military Spouse Corporate Career Network
• National Military Family Association
• Operation First Response
• Operation Homefront
• Puppy Jake Foundation
• Soldier’s Angels
• Team Red, White & Blue
• Travis Manion Foundation
• USA Cares
• USO
• Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for Children
• VFW Foundation
• Wounded Warrior Project
• Wounded Warrior Family Support

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Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video interview featuring Amy Palmer, President & CEO, Soldier’s Angels (a BBB Accredited Charity) which provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and the growing veteran population. For example, at approximately 30 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities, SA conducts patient visits and provides luncheons/dinners, hygiene kits, box lunches, food distributions, stand down support and computers and other technology devices.

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Heart of Giving Podcast

This week, on the Heart of Giving Podcast  we celebrate Veterans Day by interviewing the CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, Michael Linnington, who brings 35 years of military experience to this organization that helps veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military.

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ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE:

BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) 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, results reporting, finances, fundraising, appeal accuracy and other issues. National charity reports are produced by BBB’s Give.org and local charity reports are produced by local Better Business Bureaus – all reports are available at Give.org.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Bennett Weiner at bweiner@give.org

 

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