CHICAGO, IL – August 30, 2012 – In the midst
of hurricane season, storms continue to develop and affect people around the
world. Just yesterday, Hurricane Isaac slowed to a tropical storm, but
continues to produce heavy rains, flooding and isolated tornadoes. As many
Americans look for ways to help those affected, they can become overwhelmed
with the number of organizations to donate to. The Better Business Bureau
serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) warns consumers to watch out for
fraudulent charities trying to scam donations during times of need.
“In the
wake of a natural disaster, many people search for ways to help those hit the
hardest,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business
Bureau serving Chicago and Northern
Illinois. “People making donations to charity should check out an
organization first to make sure their money is going to a well run and
effective one.”
The BBB
offers the following tips to help people decide where to direct donations in
order to assist storm victims and their families:
- Be cautious when giving
online. Watch
out for spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief
organization. If you are seeking to give to a charity organization
involved in relief efforts, go directly to the charity’s website.
- Rely on expert opinion when
it comes to evaluating a charity. Be careful when relying on third-party
recommendations such as bloggers or other websites, as they might not have
fully researched the listed relief organizations. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research
charities and relief organizations and check if they meet the 20 Standards
for Charity Accountability.
- Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist
relief victims. Despite
what an organization might claim, charities have fund raising and
administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a
minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected
funds will be assisting victims, the truth is that the organization is
still probably incurring fundraising and administrative expenses. They may
use some of their other funds to pay this, but the expenses will still be
incurred.
- Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence
in the impacted areas. See if the charity’s website clearly describes what
they can do to address immediate needs. Watch out for charities that don’t
already have staff in the effected areas as they may not be able to
provide assistance quickly.
- Find out if the charity is providing
direct aid or raising money for other groups. Some charities may be raising
money to pass along to relief organizations. If so, you may want to
consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to charities that
have a presence in the region. Or at least check out the ultimate
recipients of these donations to ensure the organizations are equipped to actually
provide aid.
- Gifts of clothing, food or
other in-kind donations. In-kind drives for food and clothing—while well
intentioned— may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in
need, unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to be able
to properly distribute such aid. Ask the charity about their
transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not
experienced in disaster relief assistance.
For more
consumer tips and charities you can trust, visit www.bbb.org
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As a private, non-profit
organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an
ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of
conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims,
online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and
issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage
people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
