Giving: How to donate efficiently
Charity Navigator accumulates hard to find information for donors. The data is analyzed and presented; providing a quick snapshot of a charity's overall financial health and effectiveness. It allows donors to focus, getting the biggest bang for each donation dollar.
CHECK IT OUT: Charity Navigator will take your giving to the next level.
Why did I write about Charity Navigator?
My first lens
I have spent the last several days struggling and brainstorming for a topic. My first lens, it must be perfect. The stress, the anguish, I cannot do it. (You all know the drill) I must dive in.
Then it hit me. I will combine the power of Squidoo and their charitable endeavors, with the research of Charity Navigator.
(Disclosure: I have no affiliation or ties to Charity Navigator. I was simply searching for my first lens topic and it seemed like a perfect fit. All kidding aside, this is my first lens. I hope that I have done Charity Navigator justice and promise to improve this lens continually.)
Who is Charity Navigator?
Charity Navigator's Mission Statement - straight from the horse's mouth (ok it's from their website)
"Charity Navigator works to guide intelligent giving. We help charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions by providing information on over five thousand charities and by evaluating the financial health of each of these charities. We ensure our evaluations are widely used by making them easy to understand and freely available to the public. By guiding intelligent giving, we aim to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace, in which givers and the charities they support work in tandem to overcome our nation's most persistent challenges."
Wikipedia on Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."
A Little More Background
Learn more
- Methodology
- How do they evaluate charities? See their criteria here. Charity Navigator covers items such as: fundraising expenses, fundraising efficiency, administrative costs, and program expenses (money reaching the actual cause). These are just a few examples; they also provide a whole range of financial data.
Tools to Use
Information just for you
- Efficient Giving
- Here is one link to get you started. Be sure to look around and see the other sections. There are tools, tips, FAQ's and directories; plus a very cool interactive map for finding international charities.
In the News: Charity Navigator
What others are saying
- Gift of giving takes on a whole new meaning
- You can now buy them from Charity Navigator, CharityChoice, and Network for Good. Charity Navigator, which has been around since 2001, is the largest ...
- Let's remember the reason for the season: giving
- Check Charity Navigator or GuideStar online for background information, including IRS tax-exempt status. Plan to stretch your giving dollars. ...
- Charity starts at top
- Nonprofit leaders got a 6 percent raise, on average, according to a study by Charity Navigator, which evaluates nonprofits. Ken Berger, Charity Navigator's ...
- Make the most of your giving
- Sites such as CharityNavigator.org or the Wise Giving Alliance, sponsored by the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org/us/charity, let you investigate charities ...
VOTE: Top 15 Charities
Sound Off: Its your TURN
What is your favorite charity?
(I will start you off with one, OK that's a cop-out, but I want to see what you come up with, AMAZE ME!)
Now that you've voted
See Charity Navigator's Top Ten Lists
This may be the most surprising section of the site. Look around; you might be surprised by what you find.
How well do you know your charity? Want to change your vote?
Get the lists HERE
Charity Navigator Needs Your Help
Support them
- Donate to Charity Navigator
- Learn How
- Link to their site
- Links and banner here
- Buy or give the Good Card
- Makes a great gift
Charity Navigator Usage Poll
Stay Current: Charity Navigator Blog
Stay up to date on charity news
Be sure to check back often, this blog feed will be updated every other day.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOne More Thought
Never under estimate your power to change the world
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller Things to do before leaving
Sign the guest book, let the world know you were here
Tell everyone about Charity Navigator and this lens
(better yet, link to it)
Vote, Vote, Vote: What is your favorite charity?
Keep using Squidoo and raise money for charity
Oh yeah, visit the Charity Navigator site
Here's my favorite link:
Feedback and Ideas
Your input is valued and needed
Take a second and share your thoughts, comments, or suggestions. Remember, as a community we are stronger when we work together.
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Reply
- dagsmith dagsmith Nov 5, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
- Great lens! Great service - Charity Navigator is an awseome resource. 5****
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Reply
- luvmyludwig luvmyludwig Sep 20, 2009 @ 9:39 am
- Great Job and thank you for the huge compliment on my community service lens. If you need help with anything feel free to contact me and welcome to Squidoo!
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Reply
- JenOfChicago JenOfChicago Sep 15, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
- Great first lens - I use the CN tool often.
Shop and Giveback
Charity Navigator
Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 12/20/2009) 
World Food Programme Feed Bag,Natural,one size
Amazon Price: $35.00 (as of 12/20/2009)
Starting & Building a Nonprofit: A Practical Guide
Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 12/20/2009)
The Ten Percent Solution: Simple Steps to Improve Our Lives and Our World
Amazon Price: $11.70 (as of 12/20/2009)
Sterling Silver Hope, Faith, Charity Charm, Made in Italy. 1/2" (13mm) Tall not including the bail.
Amazon Price: $15.33 (as of 12/20/2009)
Looking for Something Else
Search for whatever you want
Follow Charity Navigator on Twitter
- CharityNav
- aka Charity Navigator
- 2,691 followers
- 2,904 following
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- What Do You Plan To Eat For The Holidays? http://ow.ly/MjRn
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- More Isn't Always Better: Followers of Charity Navigator know that we have often noted how easy it is to create a n... http://bit.ly/8Gjozo
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- Five Charity Myths Dispelled http://ow.ly/N08v
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- Arts groups tend 2 have a harder time during recessions http://ow.ly/N07a. Now NJ arts groups have more reasons 2 worry! http://ow.ly/N06r
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- Dodge Foundation offers a long list of holiday gifts that benefit charities http://ow.ly/N05K
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