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For Donors
Wise Giving Guide
The Wise Giving Guide is published three times a year to help donors make more informed giving decisions. Each issue includes a cover story on a topic related to charity accountability and a compilation of the latest national charity evaluation conclusions completed by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
To order a free hard copy of the latest Wise Giving Guide, complete the form on the following link
You can now download the full version of the latest Wise Giving Guide! Please note that the summary listing in the Wise Giving Guide reflects report results as of April 14, 2023. Access the specific charity report to verify the current evaluation status. New and amended charity evaluation findings are posted each week.
Advice for donors includes the latest total giving statistics, cautions on 100% claims in appeals, contributing to charity at the checkout, and charity salary misperceptions.
Spring/Summer 2023: Charity Monitoring Worldwide
This issue includes information about a trade association of charity monitoring organizations from around the world, estimates how many people work for nonprofits in the U.S., identifies the portion of total donations made online, and describes how to interpret the meaning of IRS charitable tax-exempt status.
Winter/Holiday 2022 Issue: Donor Handbook
This issue includes information and advice for donors on several topics: statistics on total giving in 2021, tips on disaster relief donations, charity mailing list removal, highlights of Give.org Special Donor Trust Report on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and assessing new charities.
Fall 2022 Issue: Crypto-Philanthropy
This issue discusses new technologies such as blockchain and new ways of giving such as cryptocurrency and their growing importance in philanthropy. It also describes how our GiveSafely.io donation platform uses these tools to help offer a way to donate to trusted charities.
SPRING/SUMMER ISSUE 2022: Ukraine Charity Relief
This issue includes tips for donors wanting to support Ukrainians – to help those in need in Ukraine and/or the refugees that have fled to neighboring countries. It also contains a list of BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., those that meet BBB Charity Standards) that are raising money for these purposes.
This issue includes an overview of BBB Wise Giving Alliance achievements (see President’s Message), a description of lessons learned from 9/11 fundraising efforts, tips on car donations, and wise giving advice for the holiday season.
FALL 2021: A Look at our Donor Trust Report on Charity Impact
This issue includes highlights of the Give.org Donor Trust Report on Charity Impact, a description of the GiveSafely.io donation platform that secures donor data with blockchain technology, and information on the total 2020 donation statistics issued by Giving USA.
SPRING/SUMMER 2021: Estimated 2020 Giving totals, Mental health heroes, and Robocalls
Sharing updated information on overall charitable giving, looking at the response of mental health organizations after a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a spotlight on fraud perpetrated through robocalls.
Sharing the results of our annual Donor Trust Report, including a three-year retrospective.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT & DONOR TRUST
An overview of our Donor Trust Special Report looking at how donors react to reports of sexual harassment in the charities they support.
Summarizing the results of our survey of charities on the impact of COVID-19 on the charitable sector in the early days of the pandemic.
In this edition, we take a look at days set aside to raise awareness of giving to charities, such as #GivingTuesday.
Advice for donors, including information on the importance of charity annual reports, protecting personal data, participating in charity walk fundraisers, and volunteer vacations.
GIVE.ORG DONOR TRUST REPORT: Highlights
A brief summary of the results of our study on public trust in the charitable sector.
Exploring the historical roots of veterans charities, recent government regulatory activities protecting the public from misleading appeals, and how to identify trustworthy organizations.
Exploring new fundraising methods made possible by advancements in technology and communications including: cryptocurrency, virtual reality, social media and peer-to-peer.
BETTER TOGETHER: Charities and Collaboration
Featuring a summary of an article series developed by BBB WGA in partnership with and hosted by Stanford Social Innovation Review that centers around the theme of collaboration in the nonprofit sector.
In this issue, we offer advice for donors on 7 common topics from opting out of charity solicitations to tips on how to give wisely.
APPEALING TO YOUR BETTER JUDGMENT: Truthfulness in Fundraising
A call to charities to be transparent and truthful in their fundraising appeals. We also review poor fundraising practices, charity scams, and highlight some red flags for donors to be aware of.
THE SUM OF OUR PARTS: Collaboration in the Charitable Sector
Examining the role of collaboration among charities, including barriers and a look at successful examples.
THE CLOTHES OFF YOUR BACK: The Ins and Outs of Donation Bins
Learn what donors should know before giving used clothing to the now commonplace donation bin.
CELEBRATING OUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY
We take the opportunity to celebrate 15 years as the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and a century of trust in charity reporting.
WORKPLACE GIVING: Then and Now
In this edition, we take a look at how things have changed when it comes to workplace giving. The old campaign format is evolving to keep up with today's employees.
RE FUSING TO PLAY BALL: When Charities Don't Disclose
By sharing information with us, national charities are helping donors make giving decisions to charities they can trust. In this edition, we look at the reasons charities may not choose to participate in our charity reporting process, and what that means for donors.
THIS IS PERSONAL: Privacy and Security in Online Giving
There is growing concern over the security of donor information collected by charities. In this edition we describe tactics used by cybercriminals, how charities protect themselves, and what you should know as a donor.
FUNDRAISING GOES VIRAL: The Ice Bucket Challenge and Social Media
An overview of the Ice Bucket Challenge video that went viral in 2014 and raised over $100 million for the ALS Association as well as a discussion of other successful social media campaigns involving charity fundraising such as #GivingTuesday.
LEGACY OF AID: Benefit concerts then & now
For over 40 years, the benefit concert has served as one of the most easily recognizable forms of aid for charitable organizations. This article examines some of the most notable events during this time. Beyond describing the circumstances and the dollars raised, there will be an examination of lessons learned and a discussion of the potential future for this fundraising alternative.
How the Millennial generation interacts with charities and what this might mean to the future of charity accountability. Discusses traits of the Millennials such as mobile giving, volunteerism, and crowdfunding. Also includes generational chart that defines, Generation Y, Generation X, Boomers and Matures.
An overview of BBB Wise Giving Alliance subjects from the past year including: Top Five BBB Charity Review Findings, Academic Study Shows Meeting BBB Charity Standards Associated with Greater Fundraising Results, BBB WGA Perspective on The Overhead Myth campaign.
CROWDFUNDING for Charitable Causes
An overview of the use of crowdfunding websites to raise money for charitable purposes. How it all started, growth, how does it work, tax deductibility issues, as well as crowdfunding cautions and risks.
CAN MAIL APPEALS ALSO EDUCATE OR ADVOCATE: The controversy over joint cost allocation
Sometimes a charity is involved with a fundraising activity, such as direct mail, that is requesting contributions, but is also seeking to accomplish something else. The letter may ask you to take a certain action to further the charity's cause such as signing a petition or seeing a doctor if certain warning signs of disease are present. This cover story discusses the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) covering this subject and the controversy over how such expenses are recognized in the financial statements of charitable organizations.
VERIFYING THE TRUTHFULNESS OF CHARITABLE APPEALS
The keynote address delivered by BBB WGA President H. Art Taylor to the 2012 conference of the National Association of Charity Officials (NASCO) in Washington, D.C. This annual meeting is held in conjunction with the National Association
of Attorneys General (NAAG). The speech covers various issues related to the accuracy and truthfulness of charitable appeals.
FUND RAISING EVENTS: Advice for Donors
Advisories for donors about raising funds through walkathons, marathons, celebrity fund raising events, fund raising dinners, raffles, charity auctions and other events. Tax deductibility of donations is also highlighted.
CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING: Branding, Buying & Donating
An overview of promotions that involve selling a consumer product or service in the context that its purchase will benefit a specified charitable organization. How it works and recommended disclosures for such promotions as described
in the BBB Charity Standards.
CHARITY AND SOCIAL MEDIA: Finding What Fits
Charities are using text giving, Facebook, and Twitter for 0fundraising and engagement purposes. What are the opportunities and challenges for both charities and donors?
CHARTING IMPACT: An Additional Tool to Help Make Informed Giving
Decisions
More charities are asking not "What did we spend?" but "What was the result of what we spent and did?" This cover story discusses the development of an online tool intended to help nonprofit organizations consider and communicate their
progress toward impact. This project was the result of a strategic alliance between BBB WGA, GuideStar USA and Independent Sector. (BBB WGA 2014 Update: Charting Impact reports are now located at the GuideStar.org Webiste.)
REVIEWING CHARITIES: What counts?
An overview of the broad nature of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability and the BBB WGA charity report process. A discussion of how charities change their practices in order to meet these standards.
CELEBRITIES AND CHARITY
A discussion of how celebrities help organizations raise funds and engage in the charity's activities.
An overview of the volunteering marketplace: who volunteers, what they do, and starting the search for volunteer openings.
PLANTING A LEGACY – Charitable Bequests
Giving to charities by bequests – motivations, lessons from life and litigation, issues with state officials.
CHARITIES BY THE TRUCKLOAD: Gifts in Kind
Gifts-in-Kind: a discussion of contributing goods to charities in bulk quantities – valuation issues, accounting controversies, and charity programs.
DONOR PRIVACY – Disclosure? Exposure?
What is typically covered in charity privacy policies? Data breaches and other donor cautions.
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance provides charity reports, which help donors review charities and find a trustworthy charity to support. We also conduct charity assessments to help charities improve their practices and demonstrate trust.
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