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BBB Advice for Storm Disaster Relief and Fund Raising Pleas

Tornadoes have wreaked havoc across the country. Thousands have lost their homes and all of their belongings. Others have lost their loved ones. Already this year there have been twice as many twisters as in all of 2010 and most recently Joplin, Mo. has sustained unprecedented damage.

"Sadly when disaster strikes, scam artists come out of the woodwork," says Chris Coleman, President and CEO of the BBB serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland Region. "Scam artists show up and pose as charities, seeking donations from people who are anxious to help." To make sure that your donation helps tornado victims as intended, follow these tips from BBB:

  • Before donating, visit www.bbb.org/charity to research any organizations you're considering supporting.
  • Beware of fake charities that imitate the name and style of well-known organizations in an attempt to confuse donors.
  • Be wary of "charities" that come knocking on your door who are reluctant to answer reasonable questions about their operations, finances, and programs.
  • Don't give in to excessive pressure for on-the-spot donations. Be wary of any request to send a "runner" to pick up your contribution.
  • Don't give cash. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the name of the organization, not the individual collecting the donation.
  • Don't give your credit card number or other personal information to a telephone solicitor.
  • Be cautious when giving online. At times like this, scam artists don't think twice about tricking you into giving to phony charities. If you want to give to a charity involved in relief efforts, go directly to the charity's website.
  • Don't click on any links in email solicitations for money for victims.
  • Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless the charity already has staff in the affected areas, it may be difficult to bring in new aid workers to provide assistance quickly.
  • Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or is raising money for other relief groups. Some charities raise money to pass along to relief organizations. If so, consider avoiding the middleman and give directly to organizations actually helping in the area.
  • Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims. Charitable organizations have expenses they must cover, including those for fund raising and administrative costs.
If you're stumped about which national charity to support, check out how the charity is using its money. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance has established a series of voluntary standards and evaluates organizations as to the 20 voluntary Standards for Charitable Accountability. An Alliance evaluation will conclude that a charity meets all standards or does not meet certain ones, for reasons described in the report. It does not comment on a charity's worthiness or approve or disapprove of any cause. Participation in the Alliance's review efforts is voluntary, however the Alliance believes that failure to participate may demonstrate a lack of commitment to transparency. The majority of national charities contacted by the Alliance provide information and participate in the evaluation process. A full text of the 20 standards describing how the Alliance applies them is accessible on the website mentioned above.

Your BBB also conducts a program known as the Local Charity Reporting Service. This program helps donors at all levels, including businesses, to obtain objective, third party evaluations of the many charities that solicit them. If you have an inquiry about a particular charity or organization involved in fund raising activities and you would like the BBB assistance in providing information or perhaps conducting a review, please contact barb@dm.bbb.org. Inquiries from the public about a particular charity are an integral part of the success of our program. We look forward to hearing from you!