In the past week, Congress passed the spending bill (Consolidated Appropriations Bill, H.R. 2029) that pays for the Federal Government until next fall. What many don’t realize, however, is that this bill will not only prevent a government shutdown, but will also provide $32 billion for a variety of health research projects at the National Institutes of Health. A specific example is $6 million for the National Lupus Patient Registry program to be conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  As stated by the CDC, “ The project is intended to better define the incidence and prevalence of lupus and better characterize individuals with these conditions.”  For those who are unfamiliar, Lupus is an autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation and tissue damage.

Health research today is funded by a mix of grants from government agencies, institutions, foundations and charities. Each plays an important role in advancing the knowledge base on the prevention, treatment and potential cures of various diseases and conditions.  As donors, most of us seek to do our part by funding charities that conduct health research not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year. For those of you who are making end of the year gift decisions, please remember to verify a health charity’s trustworthiness by visiting Give.org to determine if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability .

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide the following video that features Sandra Raymond, President & CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America (a BBB Accredited Charity) which seeks to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programs of research, education, support and advocacy.

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.

Finally, remember to let us know by going to  https://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