’Tis the season for fun in the sun combined with a good cause. Charity golf tournaments, 5K runs/walks, and other outdoor fund raisers such as garage sales and ice cream socials now fill community calendars until the first frost hits the pumpkins in October.
Many participate because it’s fun and a good excuse to do something enjoyable; others participate only because friends or family have signed up to participate. But how much do you know about the organization or person for which the event is a benefit?
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance has a list of 20 standards that a charity must meet before it gets the BBB’s stamp of approval. These include how the charity is governed, how it manages its budget, how willing it is to disclose information to the public. You can check out national charities by going to
bbb.org/us/Charity-Reviews/
If it’s a local charity, your BBB offers the following tips to donors:
• If you are unfamiliar with the organization, don't hesitate to ask for written information about its programs and finances.
• Don't succumb to pressure to give money on the spot. A charity that can use your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow. Watch out for appeals that bring tears to your eyes, but tell you nothing about how your donation will be used.
• Before making online donations, determine whether the charity’s website has a privacy policy concerning the use of your name, email address or other personal facts.
• When considering supporting a cause-related marketing campaign, find the answers to these questions: What portion of the purchase price will benefit the charity? What is the duration of the campaign? What is the maximum or minimum total contribution? If the information is not on the item, check the organization’s website.
• Before donating used items make sure they are in good shape to reuse. Donating junk puts an undue burden on the charity and does more harm than good. You may want to consider selling the item and donating the proceeds to a charity.
Start With Trust. For trustworthy consumer tips and information, visit
wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A+ to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in the last 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org