BBB Chief Exective Jim WinsettQ Hurricane Sandy has devastated many parts of the Northeast, and I would like to help in the rebuilding efforts. Does the BBB have tips on how to get my donation to where it is most needed?
A In the wake of Hurricane Sandy hitting the Northeast, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to help donors decide where to direct donations to assist hurricane victims:
• Be cautious when giving online. Be cautious about online giving, especially in response to unsolicited spam messages and emails and social media posts that claim to link to a relief organization. If you want to give to a charity involved in relief efforts, go directly to the charity’s website.
In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the Asian tsunamis, the FBI and others raised concerns about websites and new organizations that were created overnight, allegedly to help victims.
• Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other websites, as they may not have fully researched the relief organizations they list. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities and relief organizations and verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.