I run a small non-profit agency in Cincinnati that helps people wtih severe disabilities. Earlier this year, I began recieving certified letters from the BBB Cincinnati requesting me to submit documentation related to my charity such that my business could appear in their Charitable Donation registry. In each request they mailed me, they indicated that our participation was "voluntary" but that it would behoove us to participate because potential donors frequently check this registry to determine their worthiness before donating.
I decided not to participate because 1). I did not have time to complete the intensive paperwork requested such that the BBB could rate our agency relative to their self-developed 20 standards, thinking it would be better for my agency of 2.5 full time staff to devote our time to serving those with severe disabilities in this area; 2). much of the information they requested is already available as public information on any number of sites; 3). participation, it was indicated, was voluntary.
The last certified letter I received was one that indicated that because we did not reply, the BBB would include us on their Charitable Registry site as such: our "lack of cooperation" leads the BBB to believe our agency "lacks committment to accountability and transparency".
I called the director of the Charitable Registry in our area and let him know that his process is hardly "voluntary" if the result of not participating is that misleading and inaccurate information that leads people to think we are a less than above board charity is published on their site. He basically told me "tough".
This could really hurt us, but I refuse to support them in their extortionary practice of punishing those charities that do not participate in their process.
This is normally the type of situation I would report to my local BBB - it's unfair and extortionary business practice, pure and simple.
Any comments?
Stacy
Franklin, Ohio
U.S.A.