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As the world continues to battle with COVID-19, many charities are also continuing to struggle with making ends meet. Whether it is the loss of revenue associated with in-person fundraising events or an overall reduction in donations, charities need your support and generosity now.
For many, the last quarter of the year is often the most important for charities in terms of the volume of anticipated donations. However, it is strongly recommended to verify if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Use Give.org's search engine to look for both nationally-soliciting and regionally-soliciting charities that have been the subject of a report by either the BBB Wise Giving Alliance or a Better Business Bureau. Here are some additional recommended tips.
Spotting Potential Problems in Charity Appeals
Charitable appeals often address emotional issues we care about whether it’s providing relief to a community devastated after a weather disaster or helping needy children overseas that are suffering in poverty. So, if an appeal brings tears to your eyes, make sure it also identifies what specific program activities the charity will be carrying out. Solicitations that are vague in such descriptions raise a red flag.
Donors also need to be mindful of phone solicitations. While many charities successfully use phone appeals to solicit previous contributors (such as a college contacting alumnus or an animal shelter contacting previous visitors), some questionable appeal efforts may raise money by contacting people who have never given before. Such “cold calls,” however, can involve high fundraising expenses. Don’t be pressured to make an on-the-spot donation. Do more research, such as visiting the charity’s website and seeing if a report is available on BBB’s Give.org.
People may stumble across online content while surfing the web or scrolling through social media feeds. Sometimes though, charities reach out directly via an email, social media direct messages, or other online campaigns. The charity’s appearance on social media does not necessarily mean they been vetted. To avoid disappointment, remember to check out the charity as you would any other donation.
How to Give with Confidence
- Watch out for charity name confusion. Be alert to questionable groups seeking to confuse donors with names that sound similar to charities you know.
- Resist pressure to give on the spot. Don’t give in to excessive pressure on the phone to make an immediate donation.
- Find out more about the charity. The charity’s website provides access to information on its programs, board roster and finances. Groups may also be verified through government registration. About 40 of the 50 states in the U.S. require charities to register with the with the attorney general’s office or secretary of state’s office. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency.
- Watch out for vague program descriptions. Be alert for overly emotional charitable appeals that say little about what the charity intends to do to address the problems identified.
- Check for BBB charity accreditation. Visit charity reports on Give.org to verify if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standard for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity.) There is no charge to charities for accreditation.
For More Information
Visit BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s website (Give.org) for smart giving tips, and check out this video from the Federal Trade Commission about making your donations count.
If you’ve been the victim of a charity scam, please report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Sharing your experience helps others avoid falling victim to similar scams.
Learn more about all types of scams by visiting BBB.org/ScamTips and BBB.org/AvoidScams.