Health Volunteers Overseas is pleased to announce that it has met the twenty charity standards of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. To share our commitment to accountability and ethical practices with our donors and contributors, HVO will display the BBB Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal on the HVO website and in print materials.
About the BBB Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal and Review Process
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal demonstrates an organization’s commitment to accountability and ethical practices, carrying meaning for both donors and the charity itself. For donors, the appearance of the seal in a charity’s mailings, on its website, in newspaper and magazine advertisements or elsewhere is a clear and concise sign that the charity is a trustworthy organization that meets the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability.
For charities, putting the seal in their materials is the culmination of a demanding process. Before national charities can even apply to use the seal, they must undergo a free evaluation by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, the nation’s most experienced charity evaluator. The evaluation process involves rigorous scrutiny of a charity’s governance, effectiveness, finances, and solicitations and informational materials. The standards go beyond what government regulators require.
Only organizations that come through an Alliance review with a “meets standards” conclusion are eligible to participate in the seal program. Participation is voluntary and involves a licensing agreement and fee, and more and more charities report that the seal gives them an efficient way of demonstrating their commitment to accountability and ethical practices – values that donors seek.
“National charities that display the BBB Wise Giving Alliance seal can do so with pride,” says Art Taylor, President and CEO of the Alliance. “Not only are they attesting to their organization’s adherence to sound standards, they are helping to increase donor confidence and strengthen public trust in giving.”
HVO’s charity report is available on the BBB Wise Giving Alliance website.