How the New York Seal Program Works
Because of a long-standing policy precluding use of the BBB name by
outside organizations, New York charities that met the BBB charity
standards were not permitted to state this fact in their materials or
to use the Better Business Bureau name. The New York Metro BBB
Foundation experimented with a Charity Identification Program for
several years. The results of that program helped to create the seal
program. Through participation in the seal program, qualified New York
charities now have the option of indicating, online and in promotional
materials, that they meet BBB charity standards by displaying the New
York charity seal. To qualify for use of the seal, charities must be
found by the New York Metro BBB Foundation to meet its standards, sign
a licensing agreement, and pay an annual fee. Participation in the
program is wholly voluntary.
The New York charity seal program generally applies to local New
York charities and the New York office of national charities only. The
New York Metro BBB Foundation will review individual cases to determine
the organizational scope of the seal's use.