Mechele Agbayani Mills

Tuesday is National Philanthropy Day, a day set aside to pay tribute to the great contributions philanthropy and philanthropists have made to our lives and to our world. The Better Business Bureau reminds current and potential donors to give wisely this NPD, and provides some information about the BBB’s Charity Review Program.

Here’s a fun fact: Did you know the BBB is also the nation’s oldest and most experienced charity evaluator? The BBB Wise Giving Alliance has more than 100 years of experience evaluating charities.

Another little known fact is the BBB also is the largest charity evaluator in the United States. Our national office reports on 1,300 nationally soliciting organizations, and local BBBs report on another 10,000 local and regional charities. More impressively, the BBB evaluates charities using its 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. These standards do much more than look at the financial statements and issue a “rating.” Sure, we review the financial statements, but we also consider the governance and oversight of the organization, verify that certain policies and procedures are in place and we review websites and solicitation materials for accuracy.

Something else that sets the BBB process apart is we work with charities to assist them in meeting the standards they miss. This personal attention exemplifies the difference between the BBB and other third-party evaluators. Our goal is to help organizations build their own capacity to effectively achieve their mission and serve their clients. The standards we use are a set of best practices that can assist organizations in becoming stronger. The reports we create provide organizations with a way to show potential donors that they go above and beyond what is legally required in disclosure and transparency. BBB reports are available free to donors, and the BBB does not charge charities for an evaluation.

But, make no mistake, the BBB also is a watchdog, and we are here to ensure that the organizations that do not deserve donations are spotlighted. Each year, the BBB system issues warnings about local charities of which donors should be wary. By doing this, we are helping funnel money away from the unethical operators and back to the organizations that deserve it most.

Whether you are an individual donor, foundation, business owner or cyber-sleuth, BBB charity reports serve as an unbiased resource to assist in making wise giving decisions. If you are a charity, a BBB charity evaluation is worth its weight in gold. Meeting the detailed standards of a national organization with the name recognition of the BBB can only help you in the eyes of your potential donors, while making your organization stronger.

For more information on how to be a savvy consumer, go to bbb.org. For information about charities you can trust, go to give.org. To report fraudulent activity or unscrupulous business practices, please call the BBB Hotline, 903-581-8737 or go to BBB Scam Tracker.