GuideStar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GuideStar, a 501(c)(3) public charity, provides information on other 501(c)(3) organizations. Information includes whether the IRS officially recognizes a nonprofit, and it calls itself, "The online standard of nonprofit accountability." It received its 501(c)(3) status in 1996.
GuideStar UK, GuideStar UK is an independent charity set up in 2003 to provide, for the first time, a single, easily accessible source of detailed information about every charity and voluntary organisation in the UK.
GuideStar.org.uk is the first place that anyone wanting information on a charity should look. The site provides a high profile free web presence, not just for established charities, but also for the many smaller specialist and local organisations that currently do not have websites. It promotes greater public understanding of the work of charities and how they are managed. It is an invaluable source of statistical and financial information for grant makers, researchers and public policy makers.
No one pays to be included in the database and use of the website will also remain absolutely free of charge.
Currently, the site contains details of the 168,000 registered main charities in England and Wales. In the future it will include charities in Scotland and Northern Ireland and social enterprises and informal voluntary groups. The base information about each charity is provided from the records of the Charity Commission - and subsequently maintained and updated by the charities themselves using online editing tools that GuideStar UK provide.
GuideStar UK are supported by HM Treasury, the Home Office, the Charity Commission and grant making trusts in the UK and US and by private donations.
There are a number of new organisations that aim to increase the transparency and knowledge about charities. Charity Navigator is an example of another US organisation that rates charities. Development Ratings is a UK based service that uses GuideStar UK and other sources to analyse charities and pick ones to recommend to donors.
