Ariana Grande’s benefit concert on June 4th, One Love Manchester, helped raise over $3 million for the British Red Cross to benefit the victims of the terrorist bombing at the Manchester Arena in England. This concert received worldwide attention and featured a variety of famous performers including Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell, Coldplay and others. The event also demonstrates how quickly people of concern can come together to help those in need. 

We are also reminded that not all charity concerts are conducted in response to major tragedies. During the spring, summer and extending into early fall, some cities and towns draw crowds for other music festivals to benefit charity. They have become quite commonplace not only to raise funds for specified charities but to also increase awareness of causes. But before you go online to purchase concert tickets for an upcoming charity event, we offer the following advice to keep in mind: 

• Find out about the benefiting charity. While some concerts will help well-recognized organizations, others may assist groups that are less familiar to you. Visit the charity’s website to learn more about the programs and activities funds will support. 

• Be alert to ticket scalpers. If inflated ticket prices are being charged, don’t assume that will result in more money going to the charity. Scalpers recognize that some purchasers will not question the price if the event is organized for charity. 

• Merchandise sales may not help. You can’t assume, however, that all t-shirts and other items sold at a charity concert will benefit the named organization unless they are authorized to do so and specify that connection. 

• Verify charity trustworthiness by visiting Give.org to see if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability . 

• Even if you are not able to attend, there may be other opportunities to help the featured organization(s) by either making online donations via their websites or participating in text-to-give campaigns that may take place during the concert. 

As part of our Building Trust Video series, we are pleased to provide a video of Elena Davis, Founder of I Am Waters Foundation (a BBB Accredited Charity) I Am Waters works to provide access to clean drinking water to the homeless population.

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:

• HOPE worldwide
• Ronald McDonald House Charities
• SIGN Fracture Care International 

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