BBB Guide Helps Consumers Make Wise Giving Decisions

St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 3, 2010 – This is the season for giving – charitable and otherwise. If you’re looking for a reliable guide to charities that will use your donations responsibly, the Better Business Bureau’s Charity Information Service’s Winter Wise Giving Guide provides information on 571 nonprofits in eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

This year, 148 charities have met all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and have received the BBB Accredited Charity seal to include online and in their promotional materials. The standards are included in the guide.

The 15-page guide also indicates which charities have not met the standards, showing which standards they still must meet to qualify for accreditation. The guide is available electronically at www.bbb.org. A printed copy can be obtained by contacting the BBB.

A committee comprising representatives of corporate foundations and nonprofit organizations oversees and directs the BBB’s Charity Information Service. The CIS was developed in 2002 to provide reliable information for consumers to use in making charitable donations. The guide is published twice a year. Up-to-date charity reports are always available on the BBB website or by calling (314) 645-3300.

The 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, e-mail 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.

The direct link to the guide is: http://stlouis.bbb.org/storage/142/documents/WinterGivingGuide2010.pdf.

For more information on how to ensure that your donation gets into the right hands, visit BBB’s Charity Information Service at www.stlouis.bbb.org/charity.

Contacts: Contacts: Michelle Corey, President & CEO, 314-645-3300, mcorey@stlouisbbb.org or Jim Judge, Director of Charity Review, 314-645-3300, charity@stlouisbbb.org