--- title: "Charity Checker" url: https://magnanimo.us/charity-checklist/ description: "An interactive checklist for vetting a charity before you donate: IRS status, state registration, ratings, Form 990 and FTC scam red flags." type: tool section: "Tools" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: The Magnanimous Editors publisher: Magnanimous (https://magnanimo.us/) --- Free tool · Giving smart # The Charity Checker Walk through the seven checks worth doing before you give, flag anything that looks off, and get a readiness score with direct links to the official lookups. Free, no sign-up · Runs privately in your browser · Updated October 2026 The interactive part of this tool needs JavaScript. Everything else on this page — the steps, tables, FAQ and sources — works without it. ## Check a charity before you give Charity name (optional) Used only to build the lookup links below. Nothing you type leaves your browser. - [IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search) - [Charity Navigator](https://www.charitynavigator.org/) - [GuideStar by Candid](https://www.guidestar.org/) - [BBB Wise Giving Alliance](https://give.org/) - [ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/) - [Your state charity regulator (NASCO)](https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/) 1 The 15-minute check **I have the exact legal name, website and address.** Sound-alike names are a common scam tactic, the [FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/giving-charity) warns. **The IRS search shows it's recognized as tax-exempt.** Use the [IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search); churches may not appear because they aren't required to file. **It's registered with my state's charity regulator**, where required. Find yours through [NASCO](https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/). **I read a rating or profile** on Charity Navigator, GuideStar by Candid or BBB's Give.org. No rating isn't a red flag by itself for small or new groups. **I skimmed the latest Form 990** (Part I summary, Part III programs, Part VI governance, Part VII pay), for example on [ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/). **I searched the name with "scam," "complaint" or "review"** and found nothing serious, as the FTC suggests. **I'll give through the charity's own website by credit card or check**, the safest options per the FTC. 2 Red flags: tick any you noticed They want payment by **gift card, wire transfer, crypto or payment app only**. They thanked me for **a pledge I don't remember** making. There's **pressure to give right now**, before I can look anything up. The name is a **sound-alike** of a well-known charity. The appeal is **vague and emotional**, with no specifics on how money is used. A **prize was promised** in return for donating. It came as a **link in an unexpected text or email**. A caller **couldn't say whether they represent a charity or a PAC**, or called before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. ### Readiness 0/100 Tick each step as you complete it. The score is a simple weighted checklist, not a rating of the charity. A missing rating isn't proof of a problem, and a perfect score isn't a guarantee. ## How the score works Each step in part 1 carries points, for a total of 100. Confirming IRS status counts most (20 points), because a group that isn't recognized can't receive tax-deductible gifts. Ratings, the Form 990, a scam search and safe payment are 15 points each; the legal name and state registration are 10 each. | Score | What it means | |---|---| | 85–100 | You've done the homework. Give with confidence, through the charity's own site. | | 50–84 | Mostly checked. Finish the steps listed before a large or recurring gift. | | 0–49 | Not ready yet. Spend ten more minutes before you give. | | Any red flag | Stop and verify independently, whatever the score. Contact the charity through a website or phone number you looked up yourself. | The steps and red flags come straight from our full guide, [how to vet a charity in 15 minutes](https://magnanimo.us/how-to-vet-a-charity/), which explains each one and how to read a Form 990. The red flags are drawn from [Federal Trade Commission guidance on giving to charity](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/giving-charity). ## Don't judge by overhead alone In 2013 the heads of BBB Wise Giving Alliance, GuideStar and Charity Navigator signed a joint [open letter](https://www.charities.org/sites/default/files/OverheadMyth_Letter_July2013.pdf) warning donors that overhead ratios on their own are a poor measure of a charity's performance. Look for transparency, governance and evidence that programs work. BBB's standards still expect at least 65% of expenses to go to programs ([BBB Wise Giving Alliance](https://give.org/donor-landing-page/bbb-standards-for-charity-accountability)). For comparing impact, see [effective giving](https://magnanimo.us/effective-giving/). ## If something feels wrong Don't pay. If you already did, call your card issuer or bank, then report it at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/). Scam texts are a common entry point; this guide to [spotting a scam text before you tap](https://allthingsn.com/blogs/how-to-spot-a-scam-text-before-you-tap/) covers the tells. ## Frequently asked questions **Does a high score mean the charity is good?** No. The score measures how much checking you've done, not the charity's quality or impact. Use it to make sure you haven't skipped a step. **Why are some lookup links generic?** Charity Navigator, BBB's Give.org and ProPublica accept a search term, so typing a name fills in those links. The IRS search, GuideStar by Candid and NASCO open on their own search pages, where you enter the name yourself. **What if the charity isn't rated anywhere?** Small and new charities often lack the filing history rating sites need, and churches don't have to file Form 990. Confirm IRS status and state registration, then ask the group directly about its programs and finances. **Is my information saved or shared?** Nothing is sent anywhere. The checklist works entirely in your browser and resets when you leave or press "Start over." ## Sources 1. [Federal Trade Commission — Before giving to a charity](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/giving-charity) 2. [IRS — Tax Exempt Organization Search](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search) 3. [NASCO — State charity regulators](https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/) 4. [BBB Wise Giving Alliance — Standards for Charity Accountability](https://give.org/donor-landing-page/bbb-standards-for-charity-accountability) 5. [BBB Wise Giving Alliance, GuideStar, Charity Navigator — The Overhead Myth letter (2013)](https://www.charities.org/sites/default/files/OverheadMyth_Letter_July2013.pdf) 6. [ProPublica — Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/) 7. [FTC — ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/) ## Related guides Giving smart ### [How to vet a charity in 15 minutes, and spot the scams](https://magnanimo.us/how-to-vet-a-charity/) A 15-minute checklist: confirm IRS status, read the ratings, skim the Form 990, and learn the red flags the FTC says signal a charity scam. 6 min read Giving smart ### [Effective giving: doing the most good with what you give](https://magnanimo.us/effective-giving/) Some charities do far more per dollar than others. How evaluators like GiveWell measure that, what pledges ask, and where the approach has limits. 5 min read Giving smart ### [GivingTuesday: what it is, when it is, and how to make it count](https://magnanimo.us/giving-tuesday/) The global day of generosity lands on December 1, 2026. Here's where it came from, what 2025 raised, and how to give without getting scammed. 5 min read ## More free tools ### [Kindness Generator](https://magnanimo.us/kindness-generator/) Spin a wheel or draw a card from 75 kindness ideas, filtered by time, cost and setting. Every one you do lights a star. Draw a kindness ### [Giving Budget Planner](https://magnanimo.us/giving-calculator/) Turn a % pledge into monthly and per-paycheck giving, split across causes on a live donut chart. Plan your giving ### [Meal Train Planner](https://magnanimo.us/meal-train-planner/) Pick dates and helpers, get a printable meal schedule with dish ideas, allergy notes and a calendar file. Plan a meal train