Today, as the U.S.
Federal Reserve is set to announce the first interest rate hike in almost 10 years, many point to this as a sign
of a healthy, growing economy. The implications of this change on lending in America brings to mind the “microloan”
approach to alleviating poverty, which involves lending small amounts to individuals, some as low as $25 or $100,
to help them start a small business, afford going to school, or accomplish other activities to help them improve
their lives.
While there is no universal agreement on the best way to address poverty, the diversity of available options among charities
provide opportunities that help people in their struggle to improve their situation for themselves and their children.
We encourage donors to find out more about the charities they choose to support and learn how they are seeking to
address the problems they describe so well. And, of course, take the time to verify if the charity meets the 20 holistic
BBB Standards for Charity Accountability by reviewing the available reports on Give.org.
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide the following video that features Joshua Tripp,
COO & CFO of the
Grameen Foundation (a
BBB Accredited Charity) which helps the world’s poor by providing financial services, information on agriculture
and health, and helps poverty-focused organizations improve their operations by providing mobile-based management
tools and other technology resources.
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
