Discovering nonprofits

Most donors give to things with a personal connection - a loved one, a religious institution, a school or a charity of personal interest. In most instances, givers do not go far outside the boundaries of these familiar connections. However, there is a lot more out there and as we have stated elsewhere - giving expands horizons!

But it can be daunting to find new giving opportunities. How can donors chart the waters of philanthropy when there are so many apparent pirates out there just waiting for the next unaware donation?

Here are some helpful tips on how to grow outside of your usual giving circle and find new horizons in giving:

• Use the resources available. The Internet certainly has its more disgusting aspects, but one place where it does excel is in informing people. The world of charity is no exception. There are many charity resources out there that can be used to help donors understand better the organizations receiving donations and how those donations are used. A brief list of such resources would include - Charity Navigator, GuideStar, Charity Watch and Give.org (BBB Wise Giving Alliance). This is by no means a comprehensive list, and the organizations that we have listed tend to cover the larger charities more thoroughly than smaller, regional charities. So just because an organization can be found on them does not mean it is the right charity for you.
• One of the best ways to learn about new giving opportunities is to listen to family and friends. The people you love share similar interests with you. Listening to them and learning about those organizations to which they give, provides a type of filter that offers you a higher potential of being involved with in charitable outreach matching your interests and desired goals. Certainly, it is not absolutely error proof, and we would encourage research into any organization donated to through this method, but your family and friends are a good starting point to expand giving boundaries.
• Research partnering organizations that work with nonprofits you already support. In most instances if an organization is working with a charity you are supporting, that organization will be involved in areas in which you will have interest. Sometimes these can be hard to discover since charities are often stingy with such information, but following newsletters, blogs or other publications created by your favorite charities should reveal some actionable intel on new nonprofits.