What’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Why Should We Care About It?

It’s easy to talk about the things we have in common. When we meet people, we start with what we all relate to. “Is it still raining out there? Are you also flying home? ­­­You got tickets to Hamilton?!”

It’s a lot harder to talk about differences.

It’s even harder to talk about differences when they’re about our identities.

GuideStar’s mission is to “revolutionize philanthropy by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving.”

We know what you’re thinking: “How can providing information ‘revolutionize’ anything? Revolutions are exciting. Information ... isn’t.” Oh, but it is, and a new initiative from Salesforce.org and United Way shows just how exciting nonprofit information can be.

Yesterday, we looked at the growth in donations made through the GuideStar website in 2017. Today we’re examining the impact having a GuideStar Seal of Transparency and mission had on these gifts.

What would you say if someone told you:

• there’s a place where the number of charities receiving donations grew 200 percent in one year;
• the number of donations in that place increased 150 percent over the same year;
• the amount of money donated in that place doubled during that year; and
• just a few minutes of your time could enable your organization to take advantage of these developments—for free?

As the new year approaches and we step back to reflect upon 2017, I hope you are as inspired as I am by the good works we have seen in the nonprofit sector. As individual organizations working at the local, state, national, and international levels, and as a collective entity, nonprofits have been at the heart of social change in 2017. You have shared in their successes and challenges, and we hope you will join us in making sure their voices are heard in 2018 and beyond. 

Today, #GivingTuesday, is an important day for nonprofits around the world, including GuideStar!

With the giving season ahead of us and the holidays fast approaching, this time of year has a different meaning for each of us. At its core, the giving season is the culmination of what has been building within us all year: a desire to articulate and act upon the value we receive that in turn enriches our work, our relationships, and our lives. 

Nonprofit Organizations Granted New Opportunities with ExpressTaxExempt & GuideStar Partnership

SPAN Enterprises, parent company of ExpressTaxExempt, is excited to announce the launch of Express990 in collaboration with GuideStar. Express990 allows nonprofits to seamlessly export their completed IRS Form 990, 990-EZ, and 990-PF returns to be viewed on GuideStar.

As every nonprofit knows, the ability to tell your story is key in communicating your organization’s mission and impact to your audience. But what happens when your mission is focused on helping users get the nonprofit information they need and providing nonprofits with a platform to share their impact story with the world? You are left with a hole in how your organization can communicate its own story about the incredible work you do. 

When I am asked about Charity Navigator I often joke that they are a “frenemy” of GuideStar. But the truth is that they are a friend. We’ve worked on projects together and have an amicable relationship. Our two organizations joined with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance in 2013 to launch the Overhead Myth campaign, a collective attempt to shift the conversation about nonprofit performance away from financial ratios ... and toward programmatic results.