Volunteers at charities have always played an essential role in the growth of philanthropy. Whether it consists of friends and family helping to raise money for a favorite cause or neighborhood youth asking you to sign an advocacy petition, we are asked with increasing frequency, especially in the summer months, to engage with charities that need our help. Last month at our BBB WGA Charity Conference, one of our speakers, Derrick Feldmann, President of Achieve, shared his views about reaching out to Millennials and recommended that charities not just simply ask them for donations but engage them in some meaningful way to develop a relationship that can build over time. To a great extent, volunteering provides that opportunity. 

I was reminded of the importance of volunteering when reviewing the latest entry of our Building Trust Video Series, which features an interview with Jaime Berman Matyas, President and Chief Executive Officer , Student Conservation Association (SCA). SCA has been involved in building the next generation of conservation leaders and encouraging environmental stewardship since 1957. To learn more about their efforts, view the video, visit their website at www.thesca.org and read our BBB WGA report which shows they are a BBB Accredited Charity.

To get additional advice about volunteering, read our previous Wise Giving Guide cover story which encourages donors to consider some key questions before they engage in the volunteering marketplace. Read the story to find the answers:

• What should you expect of the charities when you or your child offers their time and talent?

• What should the charity expect of the volunteer?

• Are you aware that the IRS does not allow you to deduct the value of your time as a donation, but gas and other incidental costs may be deductible?

• Is volunteering, with so many potential rewards for both charity and volunteer, always a win-win arrangement? 

 We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

• CaringBridge
• Friends Without a Border
• Paralyzed Veterans of America  

Finally, remember to let us know by going to  https://give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one. 

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance