What happened to Charity Navigator's Donor Advisory list?
We have combined the Donor Advisory and CN Watchlist designations to create a single uniformed system. This new platform is called the CN Advisory System. Under this new system, charities are categorized into 1 of 3 designations: Low Concern, Moderate Concern and High Concern. These designations are based on the alleged ethical or legal issue the organization is facing. We provide additional context as to the nature and extent of the concern, and objectively group similar items of concern together. We believe this will make it easier for donors to make informed decisions about charities on our CN Advisory list.
You can read more about this enhanced system on our website.
What is the Alert system?
When a charity is reported to engage or confirmed to have engaged in misconduct or questionable practices, we post an alert on the charity’s profile page to raise awareness and help inform your giving. To learn more about this system, you can read the methodology on our website.
What do the different alert levels mean?
Review Before Proceeding: An organization receives this alert if matters of concern relating to the organization have been reported in a media outlet Charity Navigator deems reliable, but to Charity Navigator’s knowledge, no legal proceeding has commenced or the matter is not of a legal nature.
Proceed with Caution: An organization receives this alert if a credible media outlet (as determined by Charity Navigator) has reported that a government agency or a private third-party has filed charges or brought a claim as part of a pending legal proceeding, alleging that the organization or its managers have engaged in illegal conduct, including but not limited to financial wrongdoing, discrimination, or violation of data security laws.
Proceed with Increased Caution: An organization receives this alert if a credible media outlet (as determined by Charity Navigator) has reported that:
The organization is engaged in bankruptcy proceedings; or
The organization has been found through a legal proceeding to have engaged, or have managers who have engaged, in illegal conduct, including but not limited to financial wrongdoing, discrimination, or violation of data security laws
Giving Not Recommended: An organization receives this alert if:
The organization lacks 501(c)(3) status; or
A credible media outlet (as determined by Charity Navigator) has reported that the organization has engaged, or have managers who have engaged, in substantial fraud or misrepresentation relating to the organization’s charitable purposes or activities, as determined through a legal proceeding
What do I do if I have concerns about a charity?
If you believe that a particular charity is operating unethically or illegally, then we strongly encourage you to report your concerns to the proper authorities. Nonprofit regulation is typically at the federal level of the IRS, and at the state level of the Attorney General.
In addition, if you have objective and publicly available data that documents your concerns about a charity, then you may forward it to the CN Alert Issuance Committee at alerts@charitynavigator.org.
My nonprofit has questions about the CN Alert system, how can I get these answered?
If your charity has been issued an Alert, then you may direct any and all inquiries about your advisory to the CN Alert Issuance Committee email address: alerts@charitynavigator.org. For more information, please also see our Alerts methodology.