CharityWatch

CharityWatch, founded in 1992, works to uncover and report on wrongdoing in the nonprofit sector by conducting in-depth analyses of the audited financial statements, tax forms, fundraising contracts, & other reporting of nonprofits, issuing charity ratings on an "A+" to "F" scale. Unlike most other online sources of charity data that function as quasi-trade associations for charities, CharityWatch fiercely advocates for the interests of the donating public.

CharityWatch also works to highlight highly efficient nonprofits by publishing a list of our Top-Rated charities on charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities. Along with our "A+" to "F" ratings, CharityWatch publishes lists of High Asset Charities & Top Compensation Packages of charity executives. Our ratings also include detailed notes compiled by our analysts during our charity evaluations to help donors stay informed by providing context and flagging issues of interest we identify during our rating process.

CharityWatch also researches, writes, publishes, and distributes articles on charitable giving, tips for giving wisely, wrongdoing in the nonprofit sector, synopses of lawsuits involving charities, and general nonprofit news. We publish these on our website at https://www.charitywatch.org/charity-donating-articles, and select articles in our biannual Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report.

CharityWatch regularly partners with journalists working nationally, regionally, or locally to contribute financial analysis and other expertise to their investigations into wrongdoing within the nonprofit sector. Journalists investigating charity fraud, misleading marketing/fundraising, diversions of assets, and other wrongdoing at charities are often operating with tiny budgets and limited staff resources. CharityWatch is often the only free resource available to provide them with in-depth analysis and assistance with interpreting nonprofit audited financial statements, IRS tax Forms 990, and fundraising filings. This aspect of CharityWatch's work represents our commitment to serving the public good by contributing time-intensive research and analysis that expands the reach of our work. CharityWatch has provided thoughtful commentary to hundreds of media outlets for over twenty years on wrongdoing at charities and other issues affecting the nonprofit sector. Our recent contributions can be viewed at: 

https://www.charitywatch.org/about-charitywatch/in-the-news