While I have written previous blogs on the subject of donor privacy, I would like to bring to your attention that our upcoming charity conference will include an outstanding panel discussion that addresses this issue even further. 

One of the panel discussions at our June 12^th meeting (Advancing Trust in the Charitable Sector) is on the subject of Charity Data Security & Privacy.  Senior privacy officials from two prominent nonprofits will discuss the unique privacy and security challenges their organizations face in today’s dynamic online environment, and will offer their insights on how to manage and protect sensitive personal information entrusted to charities by donors and others.  We will also hear from an FTC representative about the role of the regulator in  enforcing privacy and data protection laws as and promoting best practices at the state and federal level.  We lined up a great selection of speakers:

• Allison LeFrak,  Senior Attorney, Division of Privacy and Identify Protection, Federal Trade Commission
• William Karazsia, Assistant General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, National Student Clearinghouse
• Ellen Willmott, General Counsel, Susan G. Komen 

Each of these speakers will bring a unique and important perspective about the challenges charities face as they seek to protect their donors and other contacts from unauthorized access to data charities maintain about them.  This  issue is more than just protecting credit card information when making online gifts but extends to all forms of private information that a charity may handle as a routine part of its interactions with the public and other users.

We hope that you may be able to join us on June 12^th.  Registration is still open.  If not, we intend to share some of the highlights of this meeting in a future posting.     

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:     

• Foundation for Peace
• Pediatric Cancer Foundation
• Spina Bifida Association of America

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