Charity Watchdogs

Nov 24, 2014

We all want our charitable dollars to make a difference, but when we are inundated with requests, how do we decide which charities will receive our donations?

There are groups that help donors make more informed decisions by, in part, helping to identify those charities that are managed in an effective and efficient manner. There are many groups that rate charities based on various criteria. We have highlighted three of the major watchdogs below:

• Charity Navigator
• Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
• Charity Watch

The above listed sites are most helpful when you are trying to decide between charities with a similar focus: which environmental organization or which animal welfare organization? Although many of the larger charities are evaluated, not all charities (particularly the smaller, local charities) are included in the reporting. The lack of reporting is not necessarily a negative reflection on the charity; it's often due to the limited resources of the research groups.