Giving 101

Learn about the importance of Customer First – a powerful, transformative measurement approach that puts the voices of those served at the heart of decision-making.

Discover expert tips from the Charity Navigator team on how to find organizations making an impact and ensure your donations do the same.

Discover helpful tips for raising philanthropic children, from early discussions about giving to involving them in meaningful acts of generosity and adapting as they grow.

Learn how to avoid having to ask for a refund from a charity and how to go about asking if you must.

Support small charities to help them support their communities.

Having only the charities you're interested in reaching out to you prevents the wasting of time and resources.

Help create stability for a charity by strategizing to become a loyal donor.

It is common for donors to reactively donate to a cause right after tragedy strikes. While those impacted do need help immediately, they will also need continuing help.

Learning how cost effective an organization is helps donors understand how much they are making an impact.

Community foundations serve and support the community they are in. Before donating to one of these foundations, it's important to know how they work.

Restricted giving limits what charities can do with the money donated to them. By extension, restricted gifts often limits what a charity can accomplish.

Endowments are funds that an organization sets aside in investments where they accrue value to ensure the long-term financial stability of the organization.

Donation fatigue is a real risk, but there are ways to guard against it to ensure you do as much as you can for the causes you care about.

When it comes to street corner donation solicitations, your only obligation is basic manners. But if your interest is piqued, follow these steps.

Supporting personal fundraisers can be a beautiful experience - or a horrifying one. Here is what you need to know before you give.

While not legally defined, family foundations are generally understood to be private foundations guided by a particular family's wishes. They have their own advantages and drawbacks.

How to maximize your giving to do as much good as possible.

It can be tempting to split your giving budget between many organizations to show your support for the great work they do.

MacKenzie Scott gave millions of dollars to my favorite charity. Does my - much smaller - donation still matter to that organization?

Giving to Black-led organizations can help close the giving gap for nonprofits that are led by and helping people of color.

Make sure you get these essential answers about a nonprofit before you decide to donate.

Discover simple ways to give to the causes you believe in, from set-it-and-forget-it monthly donations to volunteering your time.

Answers to common questions that can help you understand why some nonprofits send you money or gifts in solicitation letters and what it means for you as a donor.

Charity Navigator has reviewed more than 225,000 charities—but you might find a nonprofit that hasn’t been assessed by us yet. Learn how to do your sleuthing to ensure your money will be well spent.

We may have been asking all the wrong questions about how charities compensate their leaders. Here’s what you need to know.

The terms "nonprofit" and "charity" are often used interchangeably. All charities are nonprofits, but not all nonprofits are charities.

Giving circles are a great way to connect with like-minded philanthropists to amplify your support. Here’s how to find one that fits.

Matching challenges are a great way to maximize your impact. Set up your own to double (or even triple!) the impact of every dollar you give.

Learn about the financial benefits of donating your retirement account distributions to your favorite nonprofits.

Learn how to create your own community of like-minded philanthropists to make great things happen.

Donating to a favorite charity in honor of a loved one—or in memory of someone who has passed—can be a wonderful gift.

Feeling anxious or angry about what’s happening in the world? See how giving to nonprofits that address an issue you’re passionate about can benefit your emotional health.

You may not stick with your workout goal, but helping others should be a New Year’s resolution that’s easy to keep.

Learn why you may want to direct more of your donations toward charities that support indigenous peoples.

Check out Charity Navigator’s guide to making the most of your final donations for this year.

Learn how Tribal Nations banded together to support each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening yourself up to people from different backgrounds and circumstances can broaden your horizons—and bring help to those who need it most.

Fact #1: You can’t deduct your campaign donations on your taxes.

You may be discouraged to learn that Charity Navigator does not rate international charities. Don’t let this be a hindrance. There are ways to give support international charities confidently.

Employee matching programs are a great way to make your charitable donation go further. Find out if your employer offers a charitable match today with our guide.

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan, a holy time when over one billion Muslims around the world fast and focus their attention on giving to charity.

Learn about Zakat, a required form of charity within the Five Pillars of Islam where Muslims are required to donate a portion of wealth to the underprivileged.