Charities Now Required to E-File IRS Form 990s

For the past few years, Charity Navigator has pointed to the benefits and importance of electronically filing (E-file) the IRS Form 990.  Because the content gleaned from an E-filed 990 is machine-readable, it is more accessible for the general public. Electronically filing the 990 provides charities with a direct line to the IRS for providing this document in a more timely manner while avoiding any issues that can arise via regular mail. This also has the added benefit of allowing Charity Navigator to rate organizations more efficiently. 

Solicitation Overload: Why So Many During the Holidays?

You may have noticed a major uptick in the number of times you heard from charities in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years.  We heard from a number of Charity Navigator users and supporters asking why they were receiving so many emails and letters and what they can do to cut back. 

Often, the holidays bring out the best in people - they give back to causes close to their hearts and even ask their loved ones to make a donation in their name instead of getting gifts. As a result, many charities receive the majority of their funding during this special time of year. When you couple this with the midnight deadline on New Year’s Eve for tax-deductible giving, charities respond by increasing the number of emails, letters, phone calls, text messages, and more.

Should You Feel Good About Donating at Checkout?

Here's a common scenario: you just spent the past hour adding items to your shopping cart at your local supermarket.  You get to the register, place all of your items onto the counter, and proceed to be rung up.  Now you're asked to consider making a donation to a charity.  A myriad of questions float through your head before you ultimately decide whether or not to press yes or no.  This form of donating is called point-of-sale donations.

We Deal in Hope: The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

Renee Parsons is the Co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and President of PXG Apparel. A passionate philanthropist, Renee is a member of the global organization Women Moving Millions. She and her husband, Bob Parsons, are Giving Pledge signatories.

Years ago, Bob and I pledged our support for the people of Haiti with an emergency donation after the 2010 earthquake. Knowing we needed to help, but not sure where our funding would make the most difference, I turned to Charity Navigator. It was through the Charity Navigator website that we discovered Hope for Haiti.

Reflections on 2019: A Letter from our CEO

Dear friends of Charity Navigator,

It's hard to believe that 2019 has come to an end--with so many firsts and new initiatives, the year seemed to fly by at Charity Navigator. This past year has been one of transformation and progress.

As I reflect on the past twelve months--what we achieved, what we learned, and where we’re going at Charity Navigator--one thing continues to ring true: we wouldn’t be the trusted resource we are today without the confidence of millions of users and the generous support of our donors.

Each year, tens of thousands of users show how much they value the ratings and tools we provide by making a donation to support our work. For that, the entire team at Charity Navigator is deeply grateful. Thank you for your generosity. As a small token of our appreciation, I’ve outlined some highlights from 2019 that you made possible.

Generosity: A Resolution Worth Keeping

If you’re like me, around 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve you remember that you’re supposed to make a resolution for the new year, which is just hours away. You quickly think through all of the possibilities: What is something I can (easily) keep while simultaneously promising to set my year on a meaningful and productive course? More exercise? Less coffee? More books? Less spending? Inevitably, I land on something I am bound to abandon in less than three weeks.

This year, however, I started thinking about my resolution early. I knew it would be the only way I could commit to something I actually wanted to keep. I took some time to think about what I wanted my year to look like and what steps I could take to ensure this year would be an important chapter in the story of my life. I decided that, in 2020, I resolve to actively recognize the generosity I’ve benefited from and be more generous myself toward causes that align with my passions..want to recognize the generosity that I’ve benefited from and be more altruistic be more generous.

Here’s how I am getting started in making and keeping my resolution...