Nonprofit Ratings and Increasing Your Impact

Nonprofit ratings exist whether you like it or not. Some nonprofit professionals consider outside sources and external parties’ opinions of their nonprofit obsolete. But guess what? Your donors don’t. Ratings can be valuable social proof that you can add to your nonprofit website and other promotional materials to build trust with your donors and community.

Michael Thatcher is the CEO of Charity Navigator. This 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation helps millions of people take action and support the causes they care about by connecting them to the best charities that align with their passions and values. With nearly 200,000 charities rated, Charity Navigator’s comprehensive ratings highlight the cost-effectiveness and overall health of a charity’s programs, including stability, efficiency, and sustainability measures. The metrics inform donors of not just where their dollars are going but what their dollars are doing. The ratings don’t focus solely on financials and arguments over overhead and spending. This system is one of the main reasons Charity Navigator sets itself apart from resources like GuideStar by Candid.

Michael leads Charity Navigator in its efforts to make impactful philanthropy easier for all by increasing the breadth and depth of evaluation methodologies to facilitate rating coverage of many charities and expand how the information engages new and existing audiences.

Charity Navigator’s rating system considers financial health, transparency, and accountability. Tools and resources are provided to help donors find the right charities. Moreover, nonprofits can learn how to differentiate themselves to potential donors. Charity Navigator encourages nonprofits to shout about their accreditation and good ratings. It lets donors know that the performance has been validated. Michael also describes his organization’s Candid Platinum accreditation.

This episode is an excellent opportunity to learn from experts about the ins and outs of the philanthropic landscape. Discover how to make the most of your charitable giving. Tune in to this episode of the Nonprofit Hub Podcast to hear more about how Charity Navigator is working to create a more effective and efficient philanthropic landscape.