Recent Articles
Please browse through our collection of articles, written by industry experts, inside and out of Charity Navigator. If you would like to see a collection of articles written about Charity Navigator, please visit our Press Room.
November's President's Report
November 5, 2008 -- This month, we launched a new blog site called Ken's Commentary.
Giving to Largest Charities Increased 4.5 Percent in 2007
October 28, 2008 -- The largest charitable organizations in the country reported a 4.5 percent increase in donations during fiscal year 2007, raising a total of $72.5 billion, Bloomberg.com reports.
Nonprofits Look to New President for Improved Policies
October 22, 2008 -- With a major economic crisis pressing on America's families and communities, the nation's nonprofit organizations are looking to a new presidency for help in responding. And they have some definite ideas about what is needed, according to a new survey by the Johns Hopkins University Nonprofit Listening Post Project.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 1, 2008 -- Find a highly-rated charity to support.
Government Charity Drive Fails to Vet Charities
October 1, 2008 -- Last year, Charity Navigator published an article examining the financial performance of charities participating in the federal government’s workplace giving campaign. We lamented the
Current U.S. Economy Causes Seniors to Give Less, the Young to Give More
September 29, 2008 -- The Grizzard Communications Group, an industry leader in integrated, direct response marketing and fundraising, today announced the results of a survey investigating the effects of current economic conditions on donors to charitable causes. Survey results indicate that only 13 percent of respondents expect to increase their giving for the remainder of 2008, while nearly a third (29%) admit to decrease their giving. Surprisingly, donors aged 25-34 were more likely to increase their giving in the fall, while those over the age of 65 were more likely to say they are giving less.
Weak Economy Leads to Increase in Shoppers, Decrease in Donations for Thrift Stores
September 28, 2008 -- The same economic woes that have resulted in an increase in the number of thrift store shoppers are causing donors to hand over fewer items, leaving many stores short on inventory, the New York Times reports. According to the Salvation Army, which operates 1,300 U.S. thrift shops, the tough economy had led consumers to hold onto their old clothes longer and to use Web sites like eBay and Craigslist to make money from unwanted items, suppressing the usual flow of donations. While sales have spiked between 5 percent and 15 percent at Salvation Army stores around the country in recent months, compared with the same period a year earlier, donations are down by as much as 25 percent.
Charity Quiz
September 24, 2008 -- As the new school year gets underway, the first item on every teacher’s agenda is to determine what knowledge her students have retained over the summer. This inspired us to
Charity Navigator Articles
September is School Success Month
September 4, 2008 -- Find a highly-rated charity to support.Separating the Best from the Rest
September 1, 2008 -- Find out which outstanding charities have earned seven consecutive 4-star ratings and which exceptionally poor charities have earned multiple 0-star ratings.August is National Water Quality Month
August 5, 2008 -- Find a highly-rated charity to support.July is National Parks and Recreation Month
July 2, 2008 -- Find a highly-rated charity to support.Roundtable Discussion: Charity Leaders Speak Out About CEO Compensation, Special Events and the Economy's Impact on Giving
July 1, 2008 -- By rating charities we endeavor to bring greater transparency to the charitable sector and in doing so, we strive to build productive, long-term relationships between donors and the charities they support. To that end, we recently asked representatives of a variety of causes to share their perspectives on a range of philanthropic issues. Read on to find out what these charity leaders had to say about CEO compensation, special events, the new Form 990 and how the economy and presidential campaign are impacting contributions.National Hunger Awareness Month
June 4, 2008 -- An estimated 36 million Americans live with hunger every day. Find a highly-rated charity working to end hunger.Caring for the Most Vulnerable Among Us
May 2, 2008 -- Throughout the month of May, Charity Navigator will feature financially healthy charities on our homepage to help you give with confidence to causes related to foster care and the elderly.Milestones in Philanthropy
April 1, 2008 -- The following timeline recounts some of the pivotal moments in the development of America’s philanthropic sector. The first account of a fundraising drive in America is organized byReduce Your 2007 Tax Bill
March 1, 2008 -- People give to charity for many heartfelt, altruistic reasons. But as evident by the surge in online gifts flowing through our site on December 31st,March Madness 2008: College Basketball Coaches Paid by Your Donations
March 1, 2008 -- College sports fans look forward to the month of March for one reason: the NCAA basketball championship tournament. Soon, college campuses will be abuzz withHobbs Foundation and Charity Navigator Continue Partnership
February 1, 2008 -- Thanks to ongoing support from the Hobbs Foundation, Charity Navigator has increased the number of charities it rates that benefit children in need and that are located in the south.CFC Contributors Beware
October 3, 2007 -- For many efficient and effective charities, the Combined Federal Campaign is a critical source of funding. It is important that federal employees give generously, but it is equally important that they take the time to research the charities they are considering supporting.Hurricane Katrina: Special Report
August 17, 2007 -- Charity Navigator created a special section on our site to commemorate the significant outpouring of generosity from donors across America. In our exclusive report, you will find an analysis of the lessons donors should have learned, Trent Stamp's op-ed on what went right (and wrong) and highlights from a roundtable discussion of various nonprofit leaders .Charity Navigator Supports Proposed Changes to the Form 990
July 1, 2007 -- We commend the Internal Revenue Service on the landmark redesign draft of the Form 990, which properly offers charitable donors a wealth of new information on the financial, operational and governing practices of public charities.Five Charity Myths Dispelled
July 1, 2007 -- As part of our mission to provide donors with the information to make intelligent giving decisions, we shatter some commonly-held myths about charitable giving.Roundtable Discussion: Small Charities Speak Out
July 1, 2007 -- Charity Navigator organized a roundtable discussion among the leaders of several smaller charities to give them the opportunity to share their unique point of view.Where The Big Money Goes
May 1, 2007 -- In an effort to make giving money away as competitive among the rich as making it, the online magazine Slate, with the assistance of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, releases the "The Slate 60", which is an annual list of "60 largest American charitable contributions of the year."The Next Five
April 2, 2007 -- On this fifth anniversary of Charity Navigator, it seems obvious that the non-profit world has changed dramatically in those five years since we launched our service and our website.Five Great Ways To Teach Your Child About Philanthropy
February 1, 2007 -- It is never too early to instill philanthropy in a child; yet, teaching them that it is better to give than to receive can be a difficult task.Donor Beware: Bogus Children's Charities
May 2, 2006 -- People have a natural instinct to protect children from harm, and when they hear a tragic tale of a sick, hurt, abused, or wayward child they feel a desire to help. Unfortunately, there are plenty of unscrupulous telemarketers and charities who try and exploit our desire to help children for their own personal gain.What's Wrong With Charities in America?
April 5, 2006 -- On the celebration of Charity Navigator's 4th anniversary, Trent Stamp has 10 questions for America's best-known charities.State Charity Reports: How Much Donor Money is Wasted in Your State?
March 1, 2006 -- Find out which state attorneys general are tracking how much professional fundraisers keep for themselves and what percentage of your donation actually reaches the charity to which it is intended.Humanitarian Emergency Alert: Kenyan Food Crisis
February 1, 2006 -- The people of Kenya, where over 50% of the population already lives in poverty and where life expectancy is only 47 years, are now facing a potential famine due to drought...Charity Spotlight: Utility Assistance Charities
January 3, 2006 -- For people who struggle to pay their utility bills and keep their heat and lights on, frigid wintry weather is more than just an annoyance; it presents a dangerous, sometimes life-threatening situation.Charity Navigator: Operation 5000
December 7, 2005 -- In the spring of 2002, we launched our website with data-driven ratings of 1,115 of America's largest charities. Today we offer 5,000 charity evaluations...Supporting America's Heroes- How to Select a Police, Firefighters or Veterans Charity
November 10, 2005 -- The brave response by police and firefighters to the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 reminded Americans of the invaluable service these courageous men and women provide to our communities.Famine in Niger: How You Can Help Feed the Starving
July 27, 2005 -- An invasion of locusts and a severe drought has left over 3.5 million people in the already impoverished country of Niger starving and in desperate need of food. The United Nations estimates that upwards of 800,000 children could die if aid does not reach them soon. As news of this famine spreads many people are looking for a way to help alleviate the suffering and prevent more unnecessary loss of life. Donating to a U.S.-based charity responding to this humanitarian crisis is one way you can make a difference in the lives of the starving people in Niger.Government Funding for Charities: When it declines, the charities lose twice
May 1, 2005 -- We all know that charities receive their funding from multiple sources. The majority of contributions come from individuals; foundations and corporations also give significant amounts to nonprofits each year. What most of us don't realize is that another considerable source are taxpayer dollars, or government funding. While overall it represents a small percentage of a charity's contributed income, government funding is a generally reliable source that is typically renewed each year, or even increased. However, in recent years this funding has become less and less predictable.Swing and a Miss: Charities, like Baseball, Strike Out
April 1, 2005 -- In light of recent news, I am struck by the similarities between Major League Baseball and America's nonprofit sector. In the mainstream public consciousness, the two could obviously not be more different. One, despite being merely a game, dominates the front page of America's newspapers. The other, even though it is not only a cornerstone of the American economy but a provider of services that often make the difference between life and death, is relegated to the trade journals.Is Your Charity Selling Your Name?
December 1, 2004 -- Taking the cue from our users, donors across America, who repeatedly tell us that they are fed up with charities selling their personal information to other charities, we recently launched an initiative to review each charity's commitment to donor privacy.Hunting for Cause Related Marketing's Charitable Impact
June 1, 2004 -- Pink breast cancer ribbons appear on just about everything these days--from kitchen appliances, to shoes, to makeup, to candy. Affinity credit cards declare our personal charitable interests by allowing consumers to direct a percentage of their purchases to charity. And some charities' identities, like the Ronald McDonald House, are synonymous with the firms that support their endeavors. All of these represent examples of cause-related marketing. Simply put--it is a partnership in which a charity and for-profit organization work together to promote a product or service for mutual benefit.Two Years of Navigating Charities
April 1, 2004 -- This month, we celebrate our second anniversary by evaluating our 3,000th charity, and we have much of which to be proud. We feel that donors are better off than they were before we were created, and that the philanthropic marketplace has been advanced. In the year ahead, we know we have a ton of work to do, as Charity Navigator is far from a finished product. We hope to add individual charity input, user feedback from those served by the charities, and some programmatic measurements. But before we move on to those tasks, it seemed like a good time to reflect on what we have learned so far.Choosing Charities over Candidates
March 1, 2004 -- If you are one of the millions of Americans considering supporting a political candidate with your hard-earned dollars this year, I hope you have a good reason. If your goal is to make our country better, to spend your money wisely, or to serve your own self-interests, the odds are that you would be much better off supporting one of America's nearly one million charities.Not All Charities Are Equal...
February 2, 2004 -- Since Charity Navigator was founded in April of 2001, our analysts have reviewed over 16,000 financial documents of America's non-profit organizations. The information we've extrapolated from those documents is used to generate the nearly 3,000 unbiased charity evaluations available for free on our web site.Charity Navigator Influences Half A Billion Dollars In Giving
January 1, 2004 -- In the past 12 months, a large segment of America's charitable donors have utilized Charity Navigator's financial evaluations to guide their giving. It is generally believed that users of www.charitynavigator.org contributed half a billion dollars to charity.When It Comes To Support From The General Public, Many Arts Charities Under-Perform
August 4, 2003 -- After a decade of prosperity and relatively effortless fundraising, arts-related charities are faced with a new fundraising reality, and because of their unique funding strategies, have been hit harder than most charities.Time for Charities to Face the Facts: Efficiency Matters
June 1, 2003 -- If America's charities are left to their own devices, they will not find ways to operate more efficiently. Why not? Because leaders of America's charities and foundations don't believe efficiency matters. And as a result, we all lose.Charity Navigator After Year One
April 15, 2003 -- We launched our non-profit organization, Charity Navigator one year ago, on April 15, 2002. At the time, our intentions were very simple. We wanted to introduce unbiased data-analysis and evaluation to the charitable sector. We recognized that billions of dollars were flowing through charities, and that in our opinion, most of it was despite the kind of data-driven, consumer-focused ratings that are pervasive in every other sector of the American economy. So, in the interest of consumer advocacy, with a secondary goal of promoting transparency and accountability in a sector that desperately needed it to restore consumer confidence amid much cynicism and skepticism, we unveiled Charity Navigator for America's charitable givers.Schools Survive Tough Times Better than Other Nonprofits
April 14, 2003 -- Private colleges and universities, which hold endowments, land and property that dwarf the holdings of the rest of America's charities, have survived the economic downturn and bear market conditions far better than other groups. Their holdings have grown faster while their debts have risen slower, and their investment portfolios have dramatically outperformed those of other charities.Charities, Donors, and the First Amendment
March 22, 2003 -- An upcoming Supreme Court case is the talk of the town among charities, their fundraisers, and the regulators and watchdogs responsible for monitoring their activity. The talk, mostly among insiders, is polite and the problem debated all-too-familiar. What do we do about charities that spend "too much" of our money on fundraising?Why Does Our Government Ignore Charities?
October 14, 2002 -- Our government, from the White House to the State Houses, has not done an effective job of regulating America's charities. And this is a recipe for a disaster.Evaluating Charities: Why the Numbers Count
April 15, 2002 -- Americans use numbers and data to make decisions in every aspect of their lives. As investors, shoppers, diners, and travelers, we access scores, ratings and polls to decide where we live, what we buy, what we eat, and where we travel. In evaluating charities, the numbers count just as much. We should use financial analysis to evaluate charities. Doing so will show us which charities to support, will teach us more about how charities work, will help charities find ways to improve, and will help us become better givers.Charity Doctors: The Need for a Non-Profit Ph.D.
April 13, 2002 -- The charities and non-profits of America today are a massive and far-reaching industry. Yet unlike such other professions as law, business, medicine and education, the non-profit industry lacks a widely-available Ph.D. program to prepare its leaders and scholars. Establishing Ph.D. programs in non-profit management will result in ensuring that more scholars focus their research full-time on understanding non-profits, in helping non-profit leaders improve how they run their organizations, and in advancing a fuller understanding of the role and importance of non-profits in America today.
