Local philanthropists have a new source of information about local charities, as the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois recently joined the national Wise Giving Alliance with its Charity Review Program.
“One of the mainstays of BBB services has for many years been the evaluation of local charitable organizations,” says Bonnie Bakin, president of BBB of Central Illinois, which serves 36 counties in the region. “Consumers and businesses alike are very interested in how their charitable dollars are used. Through our efforts and the cooperation of local charities, we are working to enhance the number of participating charities.”
In addition to reports on nationally soliciting charities, 57 of the 112 BBBs in the U.S. and Canada produce reports on charities that only solicit regionally—BBB of Central Illinois is now on that list. Local charitable organizations are evaluated using the BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability, which promote ethical conduct and encourage fair and honest solicitation practices. Charities that meet all 20 standards will have earned BBB accreditation.
“We need to get the word out that this free accreditation process will unequivocally have a positive impact on both charities and the community alike,” says Harrison Hale, Director of Charity Review for BBB of Central Illinois. “Our goal is to increase awareness of this program, increase the number of accredited charities within our service area, and overall make it easier for donors to trust charities.” Learn more at bbb.org/central-illinois/charities-donors. iBi
