Re: Word of caution concerning non-profits

[Guest guest]

,

I don't know if you are aware of them, but GuideStar

http://guidestar.org

is an organization for people who interact

with nonprofits in various ways - and they offer a free membership that lets

you do a number of

checks on a given nonprofit.

For example, you can download their Form 990 (the basic IRS form that ALL

nonprofits MUST file yearly..)

and some other basic info.. along with analysis of what is important to look

for, for example, how much of the money they collect goes to 'administrative

costs' and how much is spent on core services..

Of course, many nonprofits are adept at concealing important information in

their Form 990 but

nonetheless, its a good starting point for checking out a nonprofit

organization.

If an organization is soliciting contributions and does not have any data

available on them,

its definitely a red flag..

If they are not a real nonprofit, this resource should be able to show that

also..

>

> There are many nonprofits out there concerning this issue that are

> doing an excellant job, but like in any industry, we also have our

> fly by nighters (scammers/conartists) that are in this just for the

> glory but mainly the money. You know the type, get rich quick scam.

>

> If you are seriouslly thinking of joining, donating,etc., PLEASE,

> PLEASE look into their track record and their nonprofit status. Make

> sure everything is legit, registered, etc. Ask many questions

> concerning their organization and they should not hesitate (if they

> are legit) to provide you with this information. Know where the

> funds are going and I believe by law the books of a nonprofit

> organization should be open to the public. (I'm sure someone will

> correct me if this is incorrect.)

>

> Ask for references, board members, trustees. Ask people you trust

> that have been dealing with this issue a while if they have heard of

> them, what their opinions are, etc.

>

> If anyone else has any other suggestions to protect the sick and

> injured, please speak up. I don't know all the facts concerning

> nonprofits.

>

> WE DON'T NEED TO BE A VICTIMIZED TWICE.

>

> KC

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this link. This helps alot, very informative. This way

everyone can check out the legitimacy of some of these " nonprofits. "

Saying you are a nonprofit is one thing, but actually having all the

credentials is another.

KC

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> ,

>

> I don't know if you are aware of them, but GuideStar

> http://guidestar.org

> is an organization for people who interact

> with nonprofits in various ways - and they offer a free membership

that lets

> you do a number of

> checks on a given nonprofit.

>

> For example, you can download their Form 990 (the basic IRS form

that ALL

> nonprofits MUST file yearly..)

> and some other basic info.. along with analysis of what is

important to look

> for, for example, how much of the money they collect goes

to 'administrative

> costs' and how much is spent on core services..

>

> Of course, many nonprofits are adept at concealing important

information in

> their Form 990 but

> nonetheless, its a good starting point for checking out a nonprofit

> organization.

>

> If an organization is soliciting contributions and does not have

any data

> available on them,

> its definitely a red flag..

>

> If they are not a real nonprofit, this resource should be able to

show that

> also..

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > There are many nonprofits out there concerning this issue that

are

> > doing an excellant job, but like in any industry, we also have

our

> > fly by nighters (scammers/conartists) that are in this just for

the

> > glory but mainly the money. You know the type, get rich quick

scam.

> >

> > If you are seriouslly thinking of joining, donating,etc., PLEASE,

> > PLEASE look into their track record and their nonprofit status.

Make

> > sure everything is legit, registered, etc. Ask many questions

> > concerning their organization and they should not hesitate (if

they

> > are legit) to provide you with this information. Know where the

> > funds are going and I believe by law the books of a nonprofit

> > organization should be open to the public. (I'm sure someone will

> > correct me if this is incorrect.)

> >

> > Ask for references, board members, trustees. Ask people you trust

> > that have been dealing with this issue a while if they have

heard of

> > them, what their opinions are, etc.

> >

> > If anyone else has any other suggestions to protect the sick and

> > injured, please speak up. I don't know all the facts concerning

> > nonprofits.

> >

> > WE DON'T NEED TO BE A VICTIMIZED TWICE.

> >

> > KC

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

If someone says that they " are a nonprofit " and aren't, IMO, that is fraud.

Seriously..

On 5/8/07, tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

>

>

>

> Thanks for this link. This helps alot, very informative. This way

> everyone can check out the legitimacy of some of these " nonprofits. "

> Saying you are a nonprofit is one thing, but actually having all the

> credentials is another.

>

> KC

>

>

[Guest guest]

Another source is _www.charitynavigator.org_

(http://www.charitynavigator.org) , which rates the financial health of

nonprofits.

Beth

In a message dated 5/7/2007 7:15:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

quackadillian@... writes:

,

I don't know if you are aware of them, but GuideStar

_http://guidestar.htt_ (http://guidestar.org/)

is an organization for people who interact

with nonprofits in various ways - and they offer a free membership that lets

you do a number of

checks on a given nonprofit.

For example, you can download their Form 990 (the basic IRS form that ALL

nonprofits MUST file yearly..)

and some other basic info.. along with analysis of what is important to look

for, for example, how much of the money they collect goes to 'administrative

costs' and how much is spent on core services..

Of course, many nonprofits are adept at concealing important information in

their Form 990 but

nonetheless

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

My two cents from having worked both for nonprofit orgs doing service delivery

and for a major philanthropic foundation (by major, I mean a group that does

significant national and international work and has a financial portfolio over

$2 billion):

I've poked around charity navigator several times over the years, and I suspect

it may still be hit or miss a bit in terms of reliability. Determinations about

health depend on so much subjective information on so many organizations that

it's hard to imagine a group can have current info across the board - the

numbers of nonprofit orgs is just too high.

Guidestar IS accepted by the nonprofit industry as a reliable source, and by

that I mean that funders use it to look at potential grantees. They LIST

information as opposed to offer their evaluation status on an org... they just

do their best to make tax reporting info (990s) available and let the individual

that subscribes to their service make their own determination about fiscal

health and responsibility.

~Haley

dcbeth@... wrote:

Another source is _www.charitynavigator.org_

(http://www.charitynavigator.org) , which rates the financial health of

nonprofits.

Beth

In a message dated 5/7/2007 7:15:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

quackadillian@... writes:

,

I don't know if you are aware of them, but GuideStar

_http://guidestar.htt_ (http://guidestar.org/)

is an organization for people who interact

with nonprofits in various ways - and they offer a free membership that lets

you do a number of

checks on a given nonprofit.

For example, you can download their Form 990 (the basic IRS form that ALL

nonprofits MUST file yearly..)

and some other basic info.. along with analysis of what is important to look

for, for example, how much of the money they collect goes to 'administrative

costs' and how much is spent on core services..

Of course, many nonprofits are adept at concealing important information in

their Form 990 but

nonetheless

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.