Perspective

The more you know, the greater the impact of your giving

Now that we’re more than a month into 2019, donors have probably already started thinking about their 2019 giving – and the things they can do to ensure it has impact. Identifying organizations most likely to deliver results is critical. But how is that done?

NCF has more than 63,000 approved charities on our website. Just log in to your Giving Fund, and search by name or category. But consider these ideas, as well – from Philanthropy News Digest – for evaluating impact.

Find organizations whose work aligns with your goals. To ensure your charitable gifts are deployed effectively, head over to a site like Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for objective ratings designed to help you find charities you can trust. Your research should focus on organizations whose missions align with your own goals and objectives. GuideStar is another good source of information on nonprofits.

A little Google goes a long way. A simple Google search not only will point you to an organization’s website, it can also reveal information about the organization’s reputation. Are there reports out there critical or questioning of its work, its leadership, its finances? Media outlets often report on charities that have violated the trust of their donors, like this report by CNN.

Check the metrics. Ask the following when evaluating the donor-worthiness of an organization:

  • Does it rigorously and consistently measure and report its results?
  • Do those results make sense?
  • Do you believe it is being transparent and honest about its results?

Charity Navigator describes in detail how to assess a charity’s level of transparency. Look for statistics and information like this on the organization’s website. Annual reports should be simple to understand and offer some information about the organization’s impact. Holding nonprofits accountable for their results is something every donor should do.

Read the full story at Philanthropy News Digest. 
Up Next

You are called to bring about flourishing

Read Now
Editor's note: Stories appearing on NCF's website from third-party contributors are intended for informational purposes only, and we do not endorse or approve the content, services, products, or theological teachings they contain. Any questions or concerns may be directed to the original publisher of such third-party content.

Sign up for our
Saturday 7 email digest

Join close to 50,000 subscribers who receive our email digest of
the week's top stories from ncfgiving.com. We call it Saturday 7.

Read our privacy policy

×