Q. How do I research a charity?

Here are sources of information for choosing charities to support.

In library

Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report – The Lawson McGhee Library keeps one year of the magazine.

Websites

Charity Navigator – Charity Navigator's rating system examines two broad areas of a charity's performance: financial health and accountability/transparency.

Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming (Tennessee Secretary of State) – Determine if a charitable organization which is fundraising is meeting the legal requirements to do so, and if the organization is one to which you wish to donate.

Give.org – BBB Wise Giving Alliance produces evaluative reports on charities based on 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability that address four charity areas: governance, results reporting, finances, and truthful and transparent communications.

GlobalGiving – Read about specific projects of hundreds of vetted organizations globally.

GuideStar – Tax returns (990 forms) for nonprofit organizations provide information on organizational salaries, program expenses, and investments.

Charities and Nonprofits | Internal Revenue Service –  The IRS provides a tool for searching tax-exempt organizations, checking an organization's eligibility to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, and searching for information about an organization's tax-exempt status and filings.