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3. Industry standards for accountability & transparency

The following organizations are well known for evaluating and rating charities.

ProPublica

ProPublica’s Charity Search is a free, public database that lets anyone look up detailed financial and governance information about U.S. nonprofit organizations using IRS filings.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance, affiliated with the Council of Better Business Bureaus, has established a set of 20 non-binding "Standards of Charitable Accountability" to help donors make sound giving decisions and increase public trust in charities.

Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator creates a platform to make impactful giving easier for all by providing free access to data, tools, and resources to guide philanthropic decision-making. According to their website, Charity Navigator’s mission is to make impactful giving easier for all by providing free access to data, tools, and resources to guide philanthropic decision-making.

CharityWatch

CharityWatch, formerly known as the American Institute of Philanthropy. CharityWatch is another well-known charity watchdog group dedicated to helping donors give thoughtfully.