How can my nonprofit become listed on Charity Navigator?
We list all 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organizations included in the IRS Business Master File (BMF). It may take several months for new organizations to appear in the BMF. Once listed, your nonprofit will typically appear on our site within two to three months.
How can my nonprofit become rated?
To be eligible for an Encompass Rating, a nonprofit must:
Be a registered 501(c)(3)
Have e-filed three consecutive years of the standard IRS Form 990
(not Form 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-N). We receive this Form 990 data directly from the IRS.These filings do not need to be consecutive. The oldest of the three evaluated filings must be no more than six years and one month old.
The most recent Form 990 must report total functional expenses greater than zero, and reported program expenses cannot exceed total expenses.
Must not have Charity Navigator “Giving Not Recommended” alert or an IRS status indicating revocation or inactivity.
What is the Nonprofit Portal?
The Nonprofit Portal allows staff from listed nonprofits to access their organization’s account, submit data, and view information related to their Charity Navigator listing and rating.
How do I find or change my nonprofit’s approved representative?
Nonprofits may have multiple approved representatives. Any staff member can apply for access to the Nonprofit Portal. You will all have the same access. To ensure continuity, we recommend designating a full-time employee as an official representative.
How did my charity receive this rating?
We evaluate charities that are registered with the IRS under section 501 (c)(3) of the tax code (all donations are fully tax-deductible), e-file three years of the standard IRS Form 990, and provide us with other data points about their organization. Please visit the Methodology section of our site to read an in-depth explanation of our rating system.
When will my charity’s rating be updated?
We collect data on a rolling basis and update ratings regularly in accordance with our ratings release schedule.
We do have an Accountability and Finance beacon policy that your website says we do not have. How can we update that?
Accountability & Finance metrics are based on information reported on the most recent Form 990 we evaluate. Updates to the ratings require a new or amended 990 to be filed and received from the IRS.
We receive all new Form 990 data from the IRS. If you are amending your 990 to make a correction, after you file with the IRS you can upload the amended 990 to the Nonprofit Portal.
How can we update our nonprofit’s general information (name, mission, address, website URL)?
Initial nonprofit information comes from the IRS Business Master File and the most recent available Form 990. Approved nonprofit representatives can update general information such as name, mission, mailing address, and website by selecting "Update Profile" in the Nonprofit Portal.
How can we supply you with a newer Form 990?
We receive all Form 990 data directly from the IRS on a regular basis. There is no action item required on your behalf.
Where can I find a Charity Navigator badge to use to promote our rating?
Nonprofits that receive a three- or four-star overall rating can access a promotional toolkit through the Nonprofit Portal. See Helpful Resources > "Rating Toolkit".