
When investigating a charity’s performance to determine if it is worthy of your support, Charity Navigator’s ratings are your best place to start. We believe there are two things every donor should do before donating. First, check Charity Navigator’s evaluation of the charity’s financial health and accountability and transparency practices. Then, reach out to the charity! Speaking to a charity directly can provide you with greater understanding about its programs, mission, and goals. We’ve developed these questions to help guide your conversation with the charity you’re thinking of supporting.
Before making a final giving decision, and based on the answers you receive ask yourself if this is an organization whose mission you stand behind,and if you are willing to make a long-term commitment to it. We like to think of intelligent giving more akin to marriage than dating. So we recommend that donors take the time, upfront, to find organizations they can support for many years to come. And when they find that charity, they should feel confident in giving it their financial support and telling it that they’ll be there through thick and thin. We believe that only then will long-term, sustainable change take place.