Consumers have many ways they can contribute to charities this holiday season thanks to technology and the creativity of charities. Whether you’re giving money, canned goods, used items or your time, BBB Wise Giving Alliance reminds donors that how you give is just as important as what you give.
Give items – Many organizations solicit coats, toys and canned goods during the holiday season. Whatever you donate, make sure the items are clean and in good condition.
Give when you shop - Many charities partner with businesses that agree to donate some amount of the purchase price from sales to a worthy cause. This type of cause-related marketing means that you can help while you shop. Check if the promotion identifies the actual or anticipated amount of the purchase price the charity will receive. Also, some businesses, such as grocery stores, ask if you want to donate to a charity and have that amount added to your receipt. This is called embedded giving.
Give online – Giving online with a credit or debit card is among the most efficient ways to support a charity. Before you enter in your numbers, give the website a thorough review and look for the organization’s privacy policy, and verify if the organization has appropriate security measures to protect such transactions.
Give through text messaging – The option to give via text message took off in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti. After texting a message to a number, the donation is tacked on to your cell phone bill. While donating via text is fast and easy for the donor, the actual money can take months to reach the charity.
Give your time – Consider giving your time. In addition to volunteering around the holidays, you can also be a vocal supporter for a charity and help raise awareness among friends and family and on your Facebook page or blog.
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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