The Council of Better Business Bureaus Restructures

June 3, 2019

BBB National Programs, Inc. was launched in 2019 as part of an internal restructuring of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. (CBBB). BBB National Programs now administers the self-regulatory and dispute resolution programs formerly administered by the CBBB.

For over 40 years, CBBB adjusted to various marketplace dynamics, adding new programs and services in response to consumer and business needs, including numerous self-regulatory programs for businesses, as well as a charity review program and a foundation. Consistent with its nonprofit mission, CBBB decided to restructure around specific stakeholder groups, to enhance services and support to consumers and businesses, donors and charities.

To efficiently deliver these programs and services going forward, this internal restructuring was focused on streamlining the organizational structure based on the audiences served. CBBB long operated under distinct lines of business to meet the needs of the diverse marketplace. Effective June 1, 2019, each line of business began to operate separately, each with its own independent board of directors and staff:

International Association of BBBs, Inc. (IABBB) (BBB.org) serves the 100 local Better Business Bureaus and their 160+ offices across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. IABBB oversees core programs such as BBB Accreditation, the BBB Code of Advertising, BBB.org—the flagship website with nearly 5.4 million Business Profiles, investigations, and consumer education. The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBBmarketplacetrust.org), BBB’s U.S. foundation, continues its affiliation with IABBB, managing programs such as BBB Scam Tracker, Fighting Financial Fraud, Military & Veterans Initiative, etc. The restructuring does not change the 100 local BBB entities across North America.

BBB National Programs, Inc. (BBB NP) (BBBNP.org) is the home of  industry self-regulatory and dispute resolution programs that include the National Advertising Division, National Advertising Review Board, BBB EU Privacy Shield, BBB AUTO LINE, Children’s Advertising Review Unit, Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, Children’s Confection Advertising Initiative, Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council, Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program, Digital Advertising Accountability Program, and the Coalition for Better Advertising Dispute Resolution Program. BBB NP is where corporations, industry, and trade associations work together to address issues of national and international importance, and to foster industry best practices in truth-in-advertising, child-directed marketing, data privacy, and dispute resolution.

The programs that earned the trust of the organization’s stakeholders and the public under the CBBB umbrella did not change. They were strengthened through the increased focus and strategic management of these independent organizations. BBB NP and IABBB anticipate no changes in current business relationships or partnerships.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB WGA) (Give.org), which helps donors make informed giving decisions and promotes high standards of conduct among organizations that solicit contributions from the public, continues to monitor and report on national charities, as well as assist the local BBBs in monitoring and reporting on local and regional charities. Through its website, Give.org, BBB WGA offers information on charity standards, links to all national and local charity reviews, advice for donors, and more.

The leadership and professional staff of these organizations look forward to continuing to serve their stakeholders, consumers, and businesses that rely on them, and to advancing efforts to build a trusted marketplace for many years to come!