Foundation Earns the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal
06/25/2009
Mission Healthcare Foundation, Inc. has earned the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal, making it the first Asheville-based charity to achieve this major designation, according to Foundation Chairman Chris Young. He made the announcement during the Foundation Trustee’s June meeting.
Mission Foundation joins a group of just 250 charities nationally who have earned the BBB Charity Seal said Foundation President Bruce Thorsen. “We are in excellent company with national charities like The American Heart Association, The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, the AARP Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to name a few.”
To achieve the seal, Mission Foundation submitted itself to an intensive review of 20 standards involving not only financial accountability, but also governance practices, ethical standards, appropriate use of donor gifts and grants with oversight by an involved and active board of trustees. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance is the most experienced charity evaluator in the nation, according to Thorsen.
The Better Business Bureau says: “The appearance of the seal in a charity’s mailings, on its website and in other communications is a clear and concise sign that the charity meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability.” Only organizations that come through the entire process earn the “ accredited charity” designation leading to the seal.
“Charities that display the BBB Wise Giving Alliance seal can do so with pride,” say Art Taylor, President and CEO of the Alliance. “Not only are they attesting to their organizations’ adherence to sound standards, but they are helping to increase donor confidence and strengthen public trust in giving.”
Norma Messer, President of the Asheville/Western NC Better Business Bureau, said the designation reflects well on the entire region.
“We are proud that a foundation here in Western North Carolina has met all 20 of the rigorous standards for charities set by the Better Business Bureau, and has qualified for our Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal,” she said. “This is a tangible demonstration of accountability to the public from which the Mission Healthcare Foundation seeks support.”
“It is important for donors to note the importance of accountability in their giving, and to demand it from all of the charities that seek their dollars. The BBB provides a readily accessible resource of information about charities and foundations. We encourage people to use our information in their gift giving, just as they do for the purchases they make” and the services they commission.”
“Philanthropy has been a vital part of Mission Hospital’s growth and development since it was founded in 1885 by the Ladies of the Flower Mission who went door to door selling flowers to raise the funds to establish the hospital ,” according to Chairman Young. “Mission Foundation continues to build on that tradition today and earning this seal is another step in our history.”
Mission Foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2010. Its primary purpose is to seek and administer gifts and grants to support a wide variety of programs and projects at Mission Hospital. The Foundation provides program underwriting and capital funds to acquire the latest technology and to help construct new or expanded facilities for patient care and services. To learn more, visit www.missionfoundation.org
