Q: I wish to financially support the disaster relief effort for Hurricane Irene. What charitable organizations does BBB recommend?
A: The BBB Wise Giving Alliance advises that even when needs are close to home, givers should take steps to assure themselves that their donations will go to reputable charities able to help victims.
Feeling a desire quickly to help those in need, we sometimes forget to heed advice that is relevant to all charitable giving. In the present situation, BBB advises donors especially to learn about what individual charities are doing and the timeframe of their work.
Donors who know what to expect from the charities they support are less likely to question the benefit of their gifts.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following five tips to help donors decide where to direct donations: