There is an old Scottish proverb that says “What
may be done at any time will be done at no time.” Life is
busy. Things to do. And many of us make our charity contributions
during the last quarter as we enter the giving season. It’s when appeals
and generosity reminders appear everywhere we turn. However, there
are clear advantages in spreading out our gifts throughout the year and
not waiting until the last minute.
As noted in the piece I wrote for Forbes, “Consider These Factors Before Making Your Next
Contribution Decision,” it’s important to take time to select
causes and charities that we care about: “While it’s certainly possible
to know this at the end of the year, it doesn’t hurt to give yourself
more time to decide on what matters to you most.”
And spreading our gifts also provides more
opportunities to research charities to make sure we agree with their
focus and verify their trustworthiness. Sadly, studies conducted by Money for Good show that only 38% of donors
report researching at least one charity before donating.
Who knows, by providing more time to check out
charities, it’s possible one might find new organizations to support and
ignite additional interests in philanthropy.
Video of the Week
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are
pleased to provide a video featuring Harold Wimmer, President and
CEO, American Lung
Association (a BBB Accredited Charity) which supports lung
health through research, advocacy and health education. The organization
reports that it funds research into the causes, prevention, and cures of
lung diseases, including lung cancer, asthma, COPD and influenza. ALA
also advocates at the national and local level to protect lung health,
including fighting for healthy air, smokefree environments, tobacco
regulation, smoking prevention, smoking cessation programs, lung health
programs and medical research.
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 https://www.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
