BBB Outlines How to Effectively Donate to Maui Wildfire Victims

The recent Maui wildfires and disaster relief efforts have been top of mind across the country, with many people choosing to donate to survivors and other rescue fundraisers.

Unfortunately, there are those who will take advantage of this situation for their own gain… or well-meaning individuals who may not be able to deliver on promised relief activities.

The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance helps donors to give thoughtfully and avoid those seeking to take advantage of the generosity of others.

Here are BBB’s tips for trusted giving:

Review clarity of disaster relief appeals. Seek out appeals that are upfront and clear about what disaster relief services you are supporting.
Look for experience in disaster relief. Support experienced organizations that stand ready to provide quick and effective assistance. Be cautious of organizations that form overnight in the wake of a disaster. Also consider whether the relief organization already has an established presence near the location of the disaster.
Donate money rather than goods. Donating money is the quickest way to help and provides charities the flexibility to channel resources to impacted areas. Instead of donating food, consider supporting food banks near an impacted area. Visit Feeding America (a BBB Accredited Charity) which works with food banks across the country.
Examine crowdfunding requests. If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust. Also review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take measures to vet posts, others don’t.
Verify charity trustworthiness. Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. We recommend giving to charities that meet all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

The following organizations are BBB Accredited Charities currently raising funds to assist Maui relief efforts:

(Photo Courtesy: Better Business Bureau)