As we celebrate the start of a new decade and make plans and resolutions, we also have an opportunity to strengthen and revise our giving decisions. To help address this objective, we offer the following advice.

Charities Need Help Year Round. There is a tendency for some to concentrate their giving during the last quarter of the year, the giving season. While charities appreciate this generosity, most organizations need assistance throughout the year. Keep this in mind as you make your donation plans.

Time to Make the Best Decisions. Avoiding the last minute rush at end-of-year giving also provides the opportunity to take more 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.

Focused Giving. While some donors prefer to spread their donations to a variety of charities addressing different causes, others may seek more focused giving by identifying a specific issue or concern and focusing their giving on groups that address that issue. Whether or not you decide to focus your giving, planning ahead provides the opportunity for making such a choice.

For additional giving advice visit the BBB Wise Giving Alliance website at Give.org.

Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Michael Roberts, President and CEO,  First Nations Development Institute  (a  BBB Accredited Charity ) which works to improve economic conditions for Native Americans through technical assistance and training, advocacy and policy, and direct financial grants.