Don’t Get Stung by “Save the Bees” Scams

 

Today (August 16, 2025) is National Honey Bee Day—and right on cue, the internet is buzzing with bee-themed ads. Jewelry “adoptions,” necklaces “that plant wildflowers,” and promises that your purchase will “save the bees.”

The good news: more people care about pollinators.
The bad news: some of these campaigns are little more than marketing hives, not conservation work.

How to Vet a “Save the Bees” Campaign

Before you open your wallet, here are some ways to check if an organization is worth your support:

1. Look for Nonprofit Status

Legitimate conservation groups in the U.S. are usually registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits. You can verify this in seconds by searching their name in the IRS nonprofit database or on watchdog sites like Charity Navigator or Guidestar.
👉 If the group can’t be found there, they’re probably a for-profit business marketing itself as a cause.

2. Check for Transparency

A serious group will publish impact reports: how much money was raised, how much went to programs, and what results followed. If you only see vague promises like “up to 90% of profits go to research,” but no proof? Red flag.

3. Verify Partnerships

Some companies name-drop respected organizations (“we partner with X”) but never appear on the partner’s official website. Always cross-check—legit partners will list collaborations publicly.

4. Beware of Over-Simplified Solutions

Real pollinator conservation involves habitat restoration, pesticide reduction, and native bee support. If a company claims that buying a trinket “saves the bees,” they’re overselling.

5. Follow the Money

Ask: What exactly happens with your dollar? Do proceeds fund actual research, land restoration, or beekeeper support—or just marketing overhead? A trustworthy organization should be able to answer this clearly.

Better Places to Direct Support

If you want your money to really matter, here are vetted organizations with strong track records:

• Pollinator Partnership – runs National Pollinator Week, research, and habitat programs.
• Xerces Society – science-based nonprofit protecting native bees and other invertebrates.
• Project Apis m. – funds honey bee research and works directly with beekeepers.

Why This Matters

Bees aren’t just a marketing symbol. They’re part of a much larger story about food, ecosystems, and even human health. That’s why I’ve spent the past few weeks researching and writing about bees:

So this National Honey Bee Day, let’s do more than buy cute trinkets.
👉 Let’s put our energy (and our dollars) where they’ll actually help the hive.

A Little Honesty…

And if you already own bee jewelry, stickers, or a whole hive’s worth of bee merch, don’t feel bad. Instead, put it to work—use those charms and decals as conversation starters to spread what you’ve just learned.

Because let’s face it: bees are cute. And now you can make them not just fashionable, but educational too. 🐝✨