Arlington, VA -- January 10, 2001 -- To help charity donors give with confidence in the new year and thereafter, a new quarterly guide has been issued that features information compiled by the nation’s two most well-known and experienced charity watchdog programs. The first edition of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving GuideTM combines the latest charity evaluations completed by both the National Charities Information Bureau (NCIB) and the Philanthropic Advisory Service (PAS) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Foundation.

A merger between these two organizations is expected to be completed in early 2001. In the meantime, both organizations wanted to provide the public with the first issue of an improved and expanded newsletter publication that will continue after the merger.

“This consolidated charity newsletter gives donors a convenient single source for the latest evaluations of national charities," notes Bennett Weiner, vice president and director of the CBBBF’s Philanthropic Advisory Service, "and replaces the long-standing separate quarterly newsletters previously published by both monitoring organizations.”

The public can get a free copy of the BBB Wise Giving Guide by sending their name and address by regular mail, e-mail or phone to:

Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide
Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Foundation
4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203

E- mail: give@cbbb.bbb.org

Phone: 1-800-575-GIVE

or by clicking here.

Wise Giving in the New Year

Charities need funds throughout the year, not just during the holidays. As donors begin a new year of giving, the BBB recommends the following wise giving advice:

• Watch Out for Name Confusion. Look at the appeal carefully, some charity names sound the same. More than 740,000 organizations have received charitable tax exempt status from the IRS and each year about 30,000 more charities come into existence.

• Question Vague Appeals. Make sure the organization’s appeals clearly identify the nature of the charity’s programs. For example, if the charity says it’s helping the homeless, do they explain how (shelter, food, or medical care) and where this is taking place?

• Be Wary of Excessive Pressure in Fund Raising. Don’t be pressured to make an immediate, on-the-spot donation. Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it, and permit you time to collect information about the organization.

• Remember: Not all Soliciting Groups are Charities. If you want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure the organization is tax exempt as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To verify the charity’s tax status, visit the following IRS site: http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/search/eosearch.html.

• Keep a Record of Contributions Throughout the Year. Keeping track of all donations, both large and small, is helpful at tax time and in responding to charities that send multiple appeals.

• Internet Appeals Require Careful Scrutiny. For those making donations on the Internet, look for clear disclosures that explain: (a) How much goes to the charity? Some Internet giving sites charge an administrative fee. (b) Does the site have a privacy policy? This should tell you what information is being collected about you and how it will be used. (c) Is there appropriate security? Look for visual alerts that indicate that appropriate security measures are in place, such as encryption technology for credit card transactions. (d) Watch out for charity web sites that ask for your Social Security number, birth date or other personal information.

• Seek Out Additional Charity Facts. Don’t hesitate to ask the charity for additional information such as a copy of its IRS Form 990. This is the annual financial form filed with the government. Also, contact your Better Business Bureau or visit the following web sites: www.bbb.org and www.ncib.org.