Contact: Ron Graves, President
210-860-2323
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Judi Smith, CFRE
Executive Director
3140-371-6000 ext. 203 or 800-500-8130
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Optimist International Foundation Meets All 20 Standards for Charity Accountability

The Optimist International Foundation, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and serving Optimist International and Optimist Clubs across the country, in Mexico, and the Caribbean, meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance standards.  President Ron Graves said, “I am so pleased to have the respected Better Business Bureau recognize our excellent fiscal responsibility and commitment to our donors.”

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance charity seal carries a lot of meaning for both donors and charities.

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 to show that the charity meets the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability.

Donors may not know, though, that 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 evaluation by the Better Business Bureau, the nation’s most experienced charity evaluator.  And the evaluation process is anything but superficial.  It 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 a review with a “meets standards” conclusion are eligible to participate in the seal program. Not all will decide to do so.  Participation is entirely voluntary and involves a licensing agreement.  But more and more charities report that the seal gives them an efficient way of demonstrating their commitment to accountability and ethical practices, the values that donors are looking for.  This commitment is all the more credible when it is verified by the familiar and respected BBB.

“Charities that display the BBB Wise Giving Alliance seal can do so with pride,” says Art Taylor, President and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. “Not only are they attesting to their organizations’ adherence to sound standards, they are helping to increase donor confidence and strengthen public trust in giving.”

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