It is not easy for charities to qualify to use the CharityWatch Charity Rating Seal(s) by achieving Top-Rated status from CharityWatch. Our standards for evaluating charities are considered the most stringent in the sector. Unlike other sources of charity information that simply repackage or repeat information self-reported by charities in their tax forms or other documents, CharityWatch conducts an in-depth analysis of a charity's financial activities. We scrutinize the numbers so that we can provide donors with meaningful, independent information about how their contributions to charity are being used.

Unlike other charity review organizations, we at CharityWatch strongly believe it is a conflict of interest to charge a charity to publicize its rating or evaluation, or to use a seal. For this reason, we allow CharityWatch Top-Rated charities to use the CharityWatch Seal(s) completely free of charge. Follow the link to The CharityWatch Difference to learn more about what sets our independent charity ratings apart from other sources of information. CharityWatch's current list of Top-Rated charities can be viewed on the Top-Rated page.

CharityWatch Charity Rating Seal(s)
License & Terms of Use

"CharityWatch" refers here to the American Institute of Philanthropy, operating under the name CharityWatch. CharityWatch makes available two types of Charity Rating Seal(s): the Letter Grade Seal, and the Top-Rated Seal, together referred to as the "Seal(s)." An organization included by CharityWatch ("Licensor") in the list of "Top-Rated Charities" on the CharityWatch web site, charitywatch.org, has permission to use the CharityWatch Charity Rating Seal(s) in its web, print, and other materials for the purpose of publicizing its rating subject to the License Terms of Use. By using the Seal(s), your organization ("Licensee") agrees to abide by the following Terms of Use:

1. Restrictions

    A. Unless otherwise stated, all restrictions apply to use of the Letter Grade Seal and the Top-Rated Seal.

    B. The Letter Grade Seal may be used only in conjunction with Licensee's current letter grade rating, as posted on the CharityWatch web site, charitywatch.org/toprated.html. The Top-Rated Seal may be used by any charity posted on the Top-Rated page of the CharityWatch web site at charitywatch.org/toprated.html.

    C. Seals are intended for use only by the entity or entities rated by CharityWatch, and not for use by related entities not covered by CharityWatch's rating. If Licensee uses Seal(s) in electronic form, Licensee must actively link the Seal(s) to the CharityWatch Top-Rated web page, charitywatch.org/topprated.html, or the CharityWatch home page at www.charitywatch.org.

    D. Licensee may make necessary technical modifications to the Seal(s) in electronic form as required for display of the Seal(s) on its web site or print materials, including altering the size and resolution of the Seal(s). Licensee may not make any other modifications to the Seal(s) without the written consent of Licensor.

    E. This License is provided to Licensee at the sole discretion of CharityWatch. Licensee is not authorized to transfer, sublicense, assign, or otherwise distribute the License to third-parties without the written consent of CharityWatch.

2. Limitation of Liability & Disclaimer

    A. Charities are designated as Top-Rated at the sole discretion of CharityWatch. CharityWatch reserves the right to determine the criteria for Top-Rated status and to assign Top-Rated status to a charity. CharityWatch also reserves the right to revoke the Top-Rated status of a charity at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion.

    B. Except to the extent required by applicable law, in no event will Licensor be liable to Licensee on any legal theory for any special, incidental, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages arising out of this License or the use of the Seal(s). Licensee shall hold harmless CharityWatch and its directors, officers and employees against any action that may be brought against Licensee as a result of the use of the Seal(s). Licensee shall also indemnify CharityWatch and its directors, officers and employees against any action that may be brought against CharityWatch or its directors, officers or employees as a result of Licensee's use of the Seal(s).

    C. Unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the parties in writing, Licensor offers the Seal(s) as-is and makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the Seal(s), express or implied, statutory or otherwise, including without limitation, warranties of title, fitness for a particular purpose, noninfringement, or the absence of latent or other defects, accuracy, or the presence or absence of errors, whether or not discoverable.

3. Termination

    A. Use of the Seal(s) does not constitute ownership, in whole or in part, of the Seal(s) by the Licensee. All permissions and authorizations granted herein are revocable by CharityWatch without cause at any time upon the giving of notice of revocation.

    B. This License and the rights granted hereunder will terminate automatically upon any breach by Licensee of the terms of this License.

    C. Subject to the above terms and conditions, the License granted here is perpetual. Notwithstanding the above, Licensor reserves the right to license the Seal(s) under different terms or to stop licensing the Seal(s) at any time. This License will continue in full force and effect unless terminated as stated above.