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How to Research Charities 101

March 15, 2023

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F-Rated Charities Receive Top Ratings & ...

F-Rated Charities Receive Top Ratings & Seals From Nonprofit Trade Associations

June 22, 2023

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FEED Foundation CharityWatch Rating

March 08, 2024

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April 2024: Charities Providing Aid in G...

April 2024: Charities Providing Aid in Gaza

April 02, 2024

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$1 Million Charity Compensation Packages...

$1 Million Charity Compensation Packages: 2024 Update

April 25, 2024

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Are Donors “UnCharitable” for Asking...

Are Donors “UnCharitable” for Asking How Efficiently Their Donations Will Be Used?

June 18, 2024

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Article

Over $2 Billion in Sexual Abuse Claims E...

Over $2 Billion in Sexual Abuse Claims Expenses Reported as a “Program” Expense

October 07, 2024

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Article

Donate for Hurricane Milton & Helene Rel...

Donate for Hurricane Milton & Helene Relief

October 10, 2024

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10 Tips For Giving in a Crisis

May 09, 2021

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CharityWatch, founded in 1992 as the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), is America's most independent, assertive charity watchdog. CharityWatch does not merely repeat what a charity reports using simplistic or automated formulas. We dive deep to let you know how efficiently a charity will use your donation to fund the programs you want to support. CharityWatch exposes nonprofit abuses and advocates for your interests as a donor.

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Donate for Hurricane Milton & Helene Relief

Oct 10, 2024

Forecasters predicted an active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Forecasters predicted an active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season....

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Over $2 Billion in Sexual Abuse Claims Expenses Reported as ...

Oct 07, 2024

When encountering charity ratings, pie charts, and program percentages in charity fundraising and marketing materials or elsewhere, donors are encouraged to be cautious and take steps to understand how this information is com...

When encountering charity ratings, pie charts, and program percentages in charity fundraising and marketing materials or else...

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Donate to CharityWatch this DAF DAY: October 10, 2024!

Oct 07, 2024

The first-ever DAF Day is October 10, 2024!

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Are Donors “UnCharitable” for Asking How Efficiently The...

Jun 18, 2024

Have you ever considered winning the lottery as the best and most effective option for solving your problems? Whether you have $3,000 or $3,000,000 in your bank account, if you use most of your savings to buy lotto tickets, the po...

Have you ever considered winning the lottery as the best and most effective option for solving your problems? Whether you have $3,...

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Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Sues Its Former...

Jun 05, 2024

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLM GNF), a 501(c)(3) public charity, sued its former fiscal sponsor, Tides Foundation (Tides), for breach of oral contract; fraud in the inducement; negligent misrepresentation; conve...

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLM GNF), a 501(c)(3) public charity, sued its former fiscal sponsor, Tides Foundati...

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Archewell Foundation: NBC Talks to CharityWatch CEO, Laurie ...

May 16, 2024

Archewell Foundation, the charity of Megan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was issued a "notice of delinquency" by the state of California for allegedly failing to pay its $200 filing fee "after a May 2023 expiration." ...

Archewell Foundation, the charity of Megan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was issued a "notice of delinquency" by the ...

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$1 Million Charity Compensation Packages: 2024 Update

Apr 25, 2024

The list below includes the top three compensation packages of $1 million or more at each nonprofit, and is based on CharityWatch's most current information as of April 25th, 2024. The Compensation column includes total of ba...

The list below includes the top three compensation packages of $1 million or more at each nonprofit, and is based on CharityWatch'...

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The Dark Side of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

Apr 23, 2024

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) offer a convenient way for donors to take a tax deduction for the charitable donations they make today while buying them time to decide which charities are worthy of those donations later. The funds dona...

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) offer a convenient way for donors to take a tax deduction for the charitable donations they make today ...

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April 2024: Charities Providing Aid in Gaza

Apr 02, 2024

On April 1st, 2024, seven of World Central Kitchen's aid workers were tragically killed while providing aid in Gaza. The charity "suspended operations at 68 'community kitchens' it had been operating in Gaza for the last six...

On April 1st, 2024, seven of World Central Kitchen's aid workers were tragically killed while providing aid in Gaza. The cha...

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2024: Donations Urgently Needed for Sudan

Apr 02, 2024

The people of Sudan need immediate aid and relief.

The people of Sudan need immediate aid and relief....

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FEED Foundation CharityWatch Rating

Mar 08, 2024

Spam CallsIt came to CharityWatch's attention that FEED Foundation had been receiving many negative online comments related to what commenters have referred to as "spam" or robo-calls. Upon further investigation by CharityWatch, i...

Spam CallsIt came to CharityWatch's attention that FEED Foundation had been receiving many negative online comments related to wha...

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Veterans Charities That May Not Need Your $

Feb 08, 2024

High Assets CharitiesWhen a charity solicits us for donations, we may reasonably assume that what we give will be used to support the cause, such as programs to help veterans or military personnel, in the near future. This is not ...

High Assets CharitiesWhen a charity solicits us for donations, we may reasonably assume that what we give will be used to support ...

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Is Tunnel To Towers Foundation a Good Charity?

Feb 01, 2024

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation (Tunnel To Towers) receives an “A+” rating from CharityWatch, our highest score, for spending 93% of its cash expenses on its programs, keeping its overhead spending down to ...

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation (Tunnel To Towers) receives an “A+” rating from CharityWatch, our highest ...

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NRA Executive Reaches Settlement With New York Attorney Gene...

Jan 08, 2024

According to a January 5, 2024 press release by New York Attorney General (NY AG) Letitia James, “Attorney General James Announces Settlement with Former NRA [National Rifle Association] Senior Strategist on Eve of Trial.”...

According to a January 5, 2024 press release by New York Attorney General (NY AG) Letitia James, “Attorney General James Announc...

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You Cannot Rely on the Government to Protect You From Bad Ch...

Nov 13, 2023

Often the public is focused on avoiding outright charity frauds and scams. While this is important, it is critical for donors to understand that even a "legitimate" charity may not have good governance or financial practices or be...

Often the public is focused on avoiding outright charity frauds and scams. While this is important, it is critical for donors to u...

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Israel-Hamas War: Top-Rated Charities Providing Humanitarian...

Oct 21, 2023

CharityWatch announces a list of legitimate, efficient, and accountable charities involved in efforts to aid and assist the people of Israel – Palestine during active conflict in the region. On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, ...

CharityWatch announces a list of legitimate, efficient, and accountable charities involved in efforts to aid and assist the people...

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Laurie Styron talks to CNBC about how to donate safely to vi...

Oct 11, 2023

CharityWatch CEO and Executive Director, Laurie Styron, talks to CNBC about how to donate safely to victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict. View CharityWatch's list of Top-Rated charities providing substantial aid in the crisis. ...

CharityWatch CEO and Executive Director, Laurie Styron, talks to CNBC about how to donate safely to victims of the Israel-Gaza con...

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Charity Annual Reports Rebranded as "Impact" Reports

Aug 25, 2023

A message from CharityWatch Executive Director, Laurie Styron...Because no independent charity rater has the unimaginable resources that would be required to independently investigate, verify, measure, and standardize the “impac...

A message from CharityWatch Executive Director, Laurie Styron...Because no independent charity rater has the unimaginable resource...

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Free Speech Concerns Limit Charity Regulation

Aug 18, 2023

Just because a charity is registered and in good standing with the IRS and state regulatory agencies does not guarantee that it will use your donations efficiently or effectively. It is possible for a charity to spend as little as...

Just because a charity is registered and in good standing with the IRS and state regulatory agencies does not guarantee that it wi...

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CharityWatch Fundraising Reduction Notice

Jul 31, 2023

The number one reason why Americans give is because they are asked. Therefore, charities do a lot of asking. If donors stop contributing to organizations that send them paper solicitations too often, charities will have strong eco...

The number one reason why Americans give is because they are asked. Therefore, charities do a lot of asking. If donors stop contri...

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F-Rated Charities Receive Top Ratings & Seals From Nonprofit...

Jun 22, 2023

Millions of donors regularly search online for ratings of charities before making their giving decisions. This makes sense. Most of us have heard horror stories about charity frauds and scams and do not want to fall victim to ...

Millions of donors regularly search online for ratings of charities before making their giving decisions. This makes sense. Most...

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Garbage In, Garbage Out: 4 Reasons Why Automated Charity Rat...

Feb 16, 2023

The reliability of the automated charity ratings is only as good as the accuracy, consistency, comparability, and completeness of the reporting. In other words, garbage in, garbage out.....

The reliability of the automated charity ratings is only as good as the accuracy, consistency, comparability, and completeness of ...

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Charity Checkout Donations 101

Dec 27, 2022

"If everything's above board, that store is really just acting like an agent...they're really just taking your money and then at some point in the future passing it on to the charity," CharityWatch executive director, Laurie Styro...

"If everything's above board, that store is really just acting like an agent...they're really just taking your money and then at s...

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Joint Costs: Avoid This Popular Charity Accounting Trick!

Dec 09, 2022

In nonprofit financial reporting, the funds spent on telemarketing, direct mail, or other solicitation activities that also include an "action step" or "call to action" are referred to as "Joint Costs." Many charities report such ...

In nonprofit financial reporting, the funds spent on telemarketing, direct mail, or other solicitation activities that also includ...

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Is This Charity 'Legit'?

Nov 29, 2022

Is this charity "legit"? Or, more correctly, is this charity "legitimate"? This is one of the most common questions asked by donors. And yet, what a donor defines as a "legit charity" may be vastly different from what is required ...

Is this charity "legit"? Or, more correctly, is this charity "legitimate"? This is one of the most common questions asked by donor...

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The New Republic Joins CharityWatch in Warning Donors That N...

Nov 01, 2022

Attempts to computer-automate charity ratings have largely treated automation as an end unto itself, ignoring the complexity and incomparability of the underlying, unaudited financial data, often producing misleading and illogical...

Attempts to computer-automate charity ratings have largely treated automation as an end unto itself, ignoring the complexity and i...

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Sign Up for CharityWatch's Newsletter

Jun 08, 2022

Receive CharityWatch's bi-weekly email newsletter and sign up for a free account where you can save your favorite charities to a list and monitor their CharityWatch ratings, executive salaries, governance benchmarks, and other dat...

Receive CharityWatch's bi-weekly email newsletter and sign up for a free account where you can save your favorite charities to a l...

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Charities Helping In The Ukraine Crisis

Feb 25, 2022

Don't waste your charity donations on scams! Donate to these legitimate and efficient charities aiding those affected by the violence in Ukraine.

Don't waste your charity donations on scams! Donate to these legitimate and efficient charities aiding those affected by the viole...

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Busting the Myths of "The Overhead Myth"

Oct 21, 2021

Before donating to charity, many donors want to know what portion of their donation the nonprofit will spend on programs versus overhead. And this makes sense. Charities and nonprofit fundraisers often reference two industry-...

Before donating to charity, many donors want to know what portion of their donation the nonprofit will spend on programs versus ov...

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10 Tips For Giving in a Crisis

May 09, 2021

You will accomplish more with your donation by giving $100 to a legitimate and highly efficient charity than you will by giving $1,000 to a fraudulent or highly inefficient one. But you must educate yourself on how to do it. Use t...

You will accomplish more with your donation by giving $100 to a legitimate and highly efficient charity than you will by giving $1...

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5 Tips for Avoiding Charity Frauds & Scams

Apr 22, 2021

Your $10 donation to an efficient, effective, and legitimate charity will make a bigger impact in forwarding the cause you want to support than your $1,000 donation to a scammer or highly inefficient nonprofit...

Your $10 donation to an efficient, effective, and legitimate charity will make a bigger impact in forwarding the cause you want to...

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Good Riddance ‘F’ Rated Charities

Jul 16, 2020

(Updated October 2, 2024) CharityWatch analysts collectively spend more than 1,000 hours each year analyzing and reporting on the financial waste and questionable practices we uncover. We warn donors about inefficient chariti...

(Updated October 2, 2024) CharityWatch analysts collectively spend more than 1,000 hours each year analyzing and reporting on the ...

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Don't Be Fooled By Name Rip-off Charity Scams

Jun 15, 2018

How much harm could there really be in confusing the names of two charities? Confusing a poorly-run charity for a well-run charity is one thing, but imagine how disheartening it would be if the entire amount of what you thought wa...

How much harm could there really be in confusing the names of two charities? Confusing a poorly-run charity for a well-run charity...

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Featured Press

"It's the toughest of the bunch, rating more than 600 charities on a scale of A+ down to F. Because it disregards certain, potentially suspect, expenses and donations, it fails some nonprofits that the other raters approve."

CharityWatch "is the pit bull of watchdogs. Its staff members dig deeper than most other overseers, going to state and federal records to get information that charities do not volunteer, honing in on program efficiency and exposing abuses."

"These guys dive deep to let you know how efficiently a charity will use your donation to fund the programs you want to support. CharityWatch exposes nonprofit abuses and advocates for your interests as a donor."

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