The goal of the Alliance seal program is to offer a highly visible accountability tool that will help inform donors, will assist charities in establishing their commitment
to ethical practices, and will encourage greater confidence in giving. Many, if not most Americans, have trouble finding the information they need to evaluate
charities and make decisions about giving. A detailed donor expectations survey of 2,003 Americans commissioned by the Alliance in the spring of 2001 found that
70% of adult Americans said it was difficult to tell whether a charity soliciting their contribution is legitimate. Public attention on charity accountability has grown in
recent years, particularly in the wake of September 11th and a series of high profile charity scandals. In turn, charities themselves are seeking credible means to
ensure donors that they operate ethically and in accordance with donor intentions. Moreover, there have been numerous requests from charities over the years to
be able to advise donors that they meet our standards.
That's correct. National charities that meet BBB Wise Giving Alliance charity standards have never been permitted to state this fact in their materials or use the BBB
name, due to long-standing policy precluding use of the BBB name by outside organizations. For reasons cited above, the Boards of the Alliance and the Council of
Better Business Bureaus (which owns the BBB name) approved a policy change that enables the Alliance to introduce a seal for national charities. The seal is
offered as a voluntary option for those national organizations that the Alliance has determined meet the BBB-WGA standards.
The seal provides a clear, concise and accessible means for potential donors to find out if a national charity meets the comprehensive standards established by
the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Charities that qualify for the seal will be able to display the seal in printed solicitation materials, in advertisements, on their web sites
and in other approved venues. Furthermore, the seal will help to extend public awareness of the Alliance's work in charity accountability.
The seal provides charities with a widely recognized (surveys have shown that 98% of the public is familiar with the BBB) and meaningful mechanism by which to
demonstrate their commitment to accountability and ethical practices. Display of the seal instantly conveys to the donor the charity's adherence to strong and
comprehensive standards.
Qualified national charities that apply for participation in the seal program will pay an annual fee. The fee schedule is a sliding scale based on the total amount of
the charity's contribution revenues in the past year. The fee schedule ranges from a $1,000 for a charity with $1 million of contributions revenue to $15,000 for
organizations with more than $100 million of contributions revenue.
Publicly soliciting national charities that are at least two years old and meet all of the applicable Standards for Charity Accountability are eligible to apply for the seal.
Currently, the Alliance reports on those national charities that have been subject of recent public inquiries. Over 200 of these national charities meet Alliance
standards and initial interest in the charity seal is expected to come from this group. However, if a national charity has not yet been evaluated and is interested in
applying for the seal program, the Alliance will complete the requisite evaluation in relation to standards.
In its early stage, the seal program will cover national charities only. The long- term goal is to expand this effort in cooperation with the national network of BBBs to
include local and regional charities.
The Alliance looks beyond "the numbers" while many other charity watchdogs confine their reports and conclusions solely to the charity's finances. The Alliance
evaluates the charity's governance, fund raising practices, solicitations and informational materials, as well as how it spends its money. Therefore, compliance
with this seal will send a more complete confirmation of the charity's accountability.
Permissible uses of the seal will include the charity's direct mail appeals, annual report, posters, newspaper and magazine advertisements, billboards, web sites
and television public service announcements. The web site seal will feature a "click to check" function that provides a direct hyperlink to the BBB Wise Giving
Alliance report on the organization.
\
Yes, the Alliance will continue to produce reports on those national charities that are the subject of recent inquiries regardless of whether the subject charity intends
to apply for the seal. Reports on both those national charities that meet and those organizations that do not meet standards are freely accessible on the give.org
website and distributed to BBBs nationwide. Currently, 32% of the national charity reviews completed by the Alliance result in evaluations that show the organization
does not meet one or more of the standards.
As with all charity reviews completed by the Alliance, participating national charities will be required to submit a variety of support documents and related
information in order for the Alliance to complete an evaluation in relation to standards including: audited financial statements, IRS Form 990, bylaws, articles of
incorporation, direct mail appeals, brochures, budgets, board rosters, and tax exempt status determination letters.
Charity evaluations are in effect for 24 months. However, they could be amended at any time based on new information or a change in charity practice. The Alliance
staff will routinely monitor seal holder organizations for adherence to seal program requirements. In addition, the Alliance will also conduct Internet monitoring for
unauthorized use of the seal online. Further, the Alliance will promptly investigate and act on any donor and/or charity complaints related to seal usage.
If a national charity participating in the seal program is found to no longer meet the standards, the subject organization would be required to remove the seal from
their website and to cease distribution of any printed materials that displayed the seal logo. The Alliance also would alert the public to any seal abuses through
prominent website notices, press releases and other information channels.
to ethical practices, and will encourage greater confidence in giving. Many, if not most Americans, have trouble finding the information they need to evaluate
charities and make decisions about giving. A detailed donor expectations survey of 2,003 Americans commissioned by the Alliance in the spring of 2001 found that
70% of adult Americans said it was difficult to tell whether a charity soliciting their contribution is legitimate. Public attention on charity accountability has grown in
recent years, particularly in the wake of September 11th and a series of high profile charity scandals. In turn, charities themselves are seeking credible means to
ensure donors that they operate ethically and in accordance with donor intentions. Moreover, there have been numerous requests from charities over the years to
be able to advise donors that they meet our standards.
That's correct. National charities that meet BBB Wise Giving Alliance charity standards have never been permitted to state this fact in their materials or use the BBB
name, due to long-standing policy precluding use of the BBB name by outside organizations. For reasons cited above, the Boards of the Alliance and the Council of
Better Business Bureaus (which owns the BBB name) approved a policy change that enables the Alliance to introduce a seal for national charities. The seal is
offered as a voluntary option for those national organizations that the Alliance has determined meet the BBB-WGA standards.
The seal provides a clear, concise and accessible means for potential donors to find out if a national charity meets the comprehensive standards established by
the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Charities that qualify for the seal will be able to display the seal in printed solicitation materials, in advertisements, on their web sites
and in other approved venues. Furthermore, the seal will help to extend public awareness of the Alliance's work in charity accountability.
The seal provides charities with a widely recognized (surveys have shown that 98% of the public is familiar with the BBB) and meaningful mechanism by which to
demonstrate their commitment to accountability and ethical practices. Display of the seal instantly conveys to the donor the charity's adherence to strong and
comprehensive standards.
Qualified national charities that apply for participation in the seal program will pay an annual fee. The fee schedule is a sliding scale based on the total amount of
the charity's contribution revenues in the past year. The fee schedule ranges from a $1,000 for a charity with $1 million of contributions revenue to $15,000 for
organizations with more than $100 million of contributions revenue.
Publicly soliciting national charities that are at least two years old and meet all of the applicable Standards for Charity Accountability are eligible to apply for the seal.
Currently, the Alliance reports on those national charities that have been subject of recent public inquiries. Over 200 of these national charities meet Alliance
standards and initial interest in the charity seal is expected to come from this group. However, if a national charity has not yet been evaluated and is interested in
applying for the seal program, the Alliance will complete the requisite evaluation in relation to standards.
In its early stage, the seal program will cover national charities only. The long- term goal is to expand this effort in cooperation with the national network of BBBs to
include local and regional charities.
The Alliance looks beyond "the numbers" while many other charity watchdogs confine their reports and conclusions solely to the charity's finances. The Alliance
evaluates the charity's governance, fund raising practices, solicitations and informational materials, as well as how it spends its money. Therefore, compliance
with this seal will send a more complete confirmation of the charity's accountability.
Permissible uses of the seal will include the charity's direct mail appeals, annual report, posters, newspaper and magazine advertisements, billboards, web sites
and television public service announcements. The web site seal will feature a "click to check" function that provides a direct hyperlink to the BBB Wise Giving
Alliance report on the organization.
\
Yes, the Alliance will continue to produce reports on those national charities that are the subject of recent inquiries regardless of whether the subject charity intends
to apply for the seal. Reports on both those national charities that meet and those organizations that do not meet standards are freely accessible on the give.org
website and distributed to BBBs nationwide. Currently, 32% of the national charity reviews completed by the Alliance result in evaluations that show the organization
does not meet one or more of the standards.
As with all charity reviews completed by the Alliance, participating national charities will be required to submit a variety of support documents and related
information in order for the Alliance to complete an evaluation in relation to standards including: audited financial statements, IRS Form 990, bylaws, articles of
incorporation, direct mail appeals, brochures, budgets, board rosters, and tax exempt status determination letters.
Charity evaluations are in effect for 24 months. However, they could be amended at any time based on new information or a change in charity practice. The Alliance
staff will routinely monitor seal holder organizations for adherence to seal program requirements. In addition, the Alliance will also conduct Internet monitoring for
unauthorized use of the seal online. Further, the Alliance will promptly investigate and act on any donor and/or charity complaints related to seal usage.
If a national charity participating in the seal program is found to no longer meet the standards, the subject organization would be required to remove the seal from
their website and to cease distribution of any printed materials that displayed the seal logo. The Alliance also would alert the public to any seal abuses through
prominent website notices, press releases and other information channels.
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Charity Seal Program Frequently Asked Questions |
Why did the BBB Wise Giving Alliance decide to develop a seal program?
Until now charities couldn't tell donors that they met BBB charity standards?
How will a seal assist donors?
How will a seal assist charities?
How will the program be funded?
Which charities are eligible to display the seal?
How does the seal differ from other charity watchdog reporting efforts?
How are charities permitted to use the seal?
Will the Alliance continue to report on national charities that do not apply for the seal and/or do not meet standards?
How will the Alliance monitor the seal and address seal abuses?
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