As coronavirus continues to impact our daily lives, donors may want to consider helping well run charities that are already experiencing financial challenges. This is especially true for organizations that are cancelling fundraising events to comply with health restrictions that reduce exposure to the virus. These cancellations can range anywhere from walkathons to benefit performances. So, if you received one of these cancellation notices, BBB Wise Giving Alliance encourages you to make a donation to the charity despite this. Of course, we hope potential contributors will also review the charity reports at Give.org to verify that the organization meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

An article posted yesterday in The Chronicle of Philanthropy recommends that charities reach out to their donors now and communicate with them about their situation not only in terms of finances but their ability to carry out their activities. This is particularly important for organizations engaged in social services that are experiencing challenges involving staff availability, restrictions on travel, and other limitations.

This situation is probably a good incentive for charities to also consider collaboration alternatives. Working with other charities that share common goals may be a way to make more effective use of available resources and perhaps avoid some of the anticipated reduction in available services to those in need.

Donors might also consider reaching out to charities on their own, to see what they can do to help. Charities will appreciate the contact but be mindful that some may be short-staffed at this time which could impact their ability to respond quickly.

Video of the Week

As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video interview with Ethan Collins, Nurse Executive, Health Wagon (aka St. Mary’s Health Wagon), a BBB Accredited Charity that seeks to provide health care to medically underserved people in Southwest Virginia. Health Wagon provides acute and chronic disease management, lab services, immunizations, physical assessments, dental and eye clinics, medication and pharmacy assistance, referrals, and community health fairs.

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:

• Alight
• Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

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.

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