SHREVEPORT, La. — The Glen Retirement System has become the region’s 12th organization to earn accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and Wise Giving Alliance, meeting all 20 national standards for charity accountability, the BBB announced.
The accreditation recognizes nonprofits that demonstrate integrity in governance, financial transparency, mission effectiveness, and public representation. According to BBB President Robin Guenard, the review process involves an independent, human-led evaluation by local credentialed professionals and is conducted at no cost to the charities.
Founded in the 1890s, The Glen began as an effort to provide a permanent home for homeless, elderly women in Shreveport and has since grown into a Life Plan Community offering housing, health care, and support services for seniors.
“Achieving recognition as the region’s 12th Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance Accredited Charity is an honor that reflects the integrity, compassion, and commitment at the heart of our mission,” said Debra Williams, president and CEO of The Glen. “This accreditation reinforces the trust our residents, families, and community place in us every day.”
The accreditation is valid for three years, with The Glen scheduled for review again in November 2028. Guenard said the recognition offers donors added assurance as they consider end-of-year charitable contributions.
Greg Thompson, who oversees charity assessments for the region, said the process is designed to promote community trust. “The most visible nonprofits within the area are automatically reviewed, and never at any cost to them,” he said. “It is all about building trust, and that is the very essence of what Better Business Bureau tries to accomplish in everything we do.”
Other Caddo-Bossier based organizations holding BBB/Wise Giving Alliance accreditation include Volunteers for Youth Justice, MLK Health Center & Pharmacy, Providence House, United Way of Northwest Louisiana, Bossier Council on Aging, Gingerbread House, Youth Enrichment Program, and Northwest Louisiana Food Bank.
The Glen’s accreditation is listed on Give.org and in the BBB’s Regional Wise Giving Guide, published three times a year.
The BBB has conducted charity reviews since the late 1920s, with the current Wise Giving Alliance standards established in 2001.