Beginning the summer of 2003, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance will now offer national charities that meet the new standards the option of applying for a BBB national charity seal that can be displayed both online and in their solicitation materials. The seal will provide the public with a clear, concise and easily recognizable symbol that the subject national charity adheres to the Alliance's strong and comprehensive standards. Only national charities that meet the new standards are eligible to apply for the seal. Participation in the seal program requires a license agreement and a fee based on a sliding scale.

Please note that participation in the seal program is optional. The Alliance will continue to report on national charities that have been the subject of recent inquiries from potential donors regardless of whether that charity intends to apply for the seal or not. The Alliance will also continue to report on both charities that meet and do not meet its standards. All the Alliance's charity reports will still be accessible at www.give.org and distributed to BBBs nationwide.

In recent years, a variety of charity accountability issues have been in the public spotlight. Many charities are concerned about this and are seeking ways to distinguish their operations and to assure donors that their organizations are operating responsibly. The goal of the Alliance seal program is to offer a highly visible accountability tool that will help inform donors, assist charities in establishing their commitment to ethical practices, and encourage greater confidence in giving. National charities' participation in the program is wholly voluntary. To qualify for use of the seal, the national charity must be found by the Alliance to meet its revised standards, sign a licensing agreement and pay an annual fee. The fees will be directed towards establishing and monitoring the seal program and helping to support the Alliance core reporting activities.

The annual fee is determined by a sliding scale based on the level of the charity's total contributions for the past fiscal year. The fee amount ranges from $1,000 for a charity with $1 million or less in contributions revenue to a maximum of $15,000 for a charity that receives contributions totaling $100 million or more. If you are with a national charity and are interested in applying for the seal, please either mail a letter email to bweiner@cbbb.bbb.org noting your organization's interest and the name and title of the individual at your organization who will handle seal application activities.