How to Research A Non Profit
Everyone has their passions – the causes they care about and their niche that they support. As we learn more about the missions of those passions, we realize that we want to be a bigger part of it. This is how we become supporters, donors and advocates for the groups we love!
There are so many amazing organizations out there that are making a difference for those who need it most. So how can you make sure that your hard earned money, time and effort are going into a productive place that you can feel confident is getting the work done? We have created a guide that you can use with any non profit and SHOULD!
This guide will help navigate learning about the non profit you’re interested in and help you make decisions about who you want to stand behind! There are unethical nonprofits out there that are not making the best use of your support and it is important to support organizations doing right by their donors and those they serve, just like it is important to help support for profit businesses who treat their customers well. Please do your research so that the organizations doing an amazing job can get the support that they need to do things the right way!
1. Website
When learning about a new non profit, the first place you want to go is their website. We suggest starting on the home page and working through every tab going from left to right. Depending on the site, this could take a few minutes or a lot more time depending on the complexity of the site.
What Are You Looking For?
-How much effort did they put into their website?
-What is their mission?
-What programs do they have?
-What makes them stand out from other organizations?
-Do they have opportunities for you to learn more about them?
-Do they have transparency and/or a place where they have any statistics of their impact posted?
Animal Rescue and Shelter Specific
-What types of animals are available?
-How much are their adoption fees and what do they cover?
-Do their adoption and/or foster requirements support your beliefs?
2. Social Media
Social media is a great way to get an inside look at the organization’s day to day work. You can observe what they are doing and what they are asking for. Social media gives off a much more personal touch than what you can find out from their website. You can also get a close look at who they are serving. Search for the non profit on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.
3. IRS
According to the IRS website, “In general, exempt organizations are required to file annual returns, although there are exceptions. If an organization does not file a required return or files late, the IRS may assess penalties. In addition, if an organization does not file as required for three consecutive years, it automatically loses its tax-exempt status.”
Getting this information to the IRS and open to the public is essential to keep your non profit status. You should be able to access quite a bit of information for the non profit you’re looking into from the general IRS website.
If they do not have their information up to date I would look into why. How long have they not filed and are they at risk of losing their non profit status?
If they do have their 990’s up you can gauge the size of the non profit just by the type of 990. If they make less than $50,000 annually the nonprofit files a 990-N. These have very little information about the nonprofit, but it is a great sign if they have them up to date a filed. As the nonprofit makes more income, the complexity of their paperwork increases and the more you can discover about their cash flow. I recommend exploring these page by page to see what you can find out and see if you can identify any flags. Some key things to look for… -Where is most of the money coming from?
-Where is most of the money going?
-Do they have paid staff? What does that pay look like in comparison to impact? -How is it filled out, how are things written?
-Do they seem organized, planned out and punctual?
-Do they have a paper trail where you can track from year to year?
4. State Charitable Solicitation Registrations
Soliciting donations or fundraising in any way is a regulated activity in most states and requires a charitable solicitation registration with the State. Specific laws differ from state to state, but this usually includes an initial registration and then an annual renewal, which allows the organizations to continue soliciting. If an organization isn’t registered according to the states laws, they should not be asking for donations or holding fundrasing events.
You can find each States database here: https://www.fundraisingregistration.com/resources/state_databases.php
Colorado Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.co.us/ccsa/pages/search/basic.xhtml
5. GuideStar
https://www.guidestar.org/search
GuideStar is a non profit database that is used to conduct research before making a donation. I would not consider a nonprofit having a GuideStar a make or break by any means, but if they do have information uploaded on there it can provide some additional information that you wouldn’t have found otherwise.
GuideStar works on a Seal system, as you fill in information as a non profit you earn different “Seals of Transparency.” Some grant funders will require a nonprofit to have an account, but the benefits of GuideStar seem very mixed between organizations and some do not keep up with their accounts. Simply go to the link above and type in the non profit that you are looking into.
If you would like to view an amazing example of a Platinum level account you can view Best Friends Animal Society here https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7147797
6. PACFA (CO Animal Welfare Specific) or Shelter Animals Count (Animal Welfare Specific)
Data… It doesn’t seem like the most appealing thing in the world, especially when you’re in the middle of saving lives, but it is truly one of the most important things that every organization should play their part in. If you are located in a state that requires you to report your statistics, such as Colorado, it may seem like a burden. You have to dig up your numbers from papers or your database and send it to PACFA (part of our Department of Agriculture) and it is published for the world to see. At the end of the day it’s just something that you have to cross off your to do list so that you can continue your mission of supporting saving the lives of animals.
Every animal related business and nonprofit is required by Colorado law to report statistics annually about the animals they handle. You can search this information here https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/aginspection/animal-shelter-and-rescue-individual-statistics
The Department of Agriculture has made it very easy to compare information, visualize it and weed out what you are looking for. Be careful you might get stuck there for a while seeing what you can find out!
For organizations outside of Colorado you can see if your state has a similar database where you can find this information. You can also check to see if the organization uses Shelter Animals Count, a national database to track the data revolving animal welfare! http://www.shelteranimalscount.org
It is also important to be up to date with certain rules and regulations. PACFA laws can be found here https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/1202-15%20for%20Website.pdf
An organization breaking law is certainly a cause for concern, especially when best animal welfare practices are not being followed. Some big red flags include the following:
-Not spaying/neutering pets before adoption
-Having a regular turn over of a week or less for their pets (time from intake to adoption)
-Not providing any foster support, supplies or vet care
-Not directing strays to county shelters in Colorado
- Get Involved and Test Run
If you have looked fully into a nonprofit and decided that you really like what they do and who they are, give them a shot! You can start by volunteering or donating and see what it’s like “on the inside.” See how they respond to your donation or your offer of help.
Subscribe to their newsletter and their social media pages to keep up to date with what they’re doing! This could be the start of something beautiful and you want to choose carefully. Every supporter should match the organization that they are backing up and you wont know until you get in there!
If it is important to you, also keep an eye on how the organization acknowledges your donation/support and interactions on social media.
Do you need more information, have questions, or need further breakdown of how to use the resources above? Just comment below!
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Demi’s Animal Rescue links:
Website Statistics: https://demisanimalrescue.com/about-us/
Colorado Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.co.us/ccsa/pages/public/summary.xhtml
Guidestar: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/27-3486723
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