Have you signed up for Guidestar.org?

Up until recently I had assumed that Guidestar was just for US organizations. Not so! This website has many international charities and foundations listed. Once you register (takes two minutes) you can search by keyword, organization name and/or location. One drawback is that it only allows you to search by US location. However, you can just put a country name in the keyword box.

While the majority of organizations listed are located in the United States, there are many that support work outside the US. For example, I searched for Brazil and discovered several charities that are US based but support work there, such as Brazil Foundation and Action for Brazil’s Children. Using these search tools organizations who serve specific countries and/or missions can connect with one another for mutual benefit.

Non profit organizations will benefit in several ways:

• Get your name out there – a basic listing of your organization is free
• Search and connect with other non profits
• Use Guidestar’s many research tools (some require a small fee; grant explorer starts at $49)
• Read its informative publications such as newsletters and reports

You don’t have to be part of a NPO to register. Individuals can use the search tool to verify a nonprofit’s legitimacy, learn whether a contribution will be tax deductible, view a nonprofit’s recent Forms 990, or find out more about its mission, programs, and finances.

Go to Guidestar.org