A charity’s website is often the first place donors go before giving. Knowing what to look for can help you understand how it operates and whether it’s a trustworthy place to support.
Whether you’ve received a charity appeal in the mail or via social media, or heard about an organization from a friend, it’s often our first instinct to visit the charity’s website to find more information before giving.
If visiting charity websites isn’t a habit, it is good practice. Robust website materials are a positive sign that the organization you are considering is transparent and trustworthy. If a charity’s website is missing critical information or is unclear, you may want to reconsider.
Below we share a few tips to keep in mind as you review charity websites to help you make wise giving choices.
The first thing you may want to look for on a charity’s website is a clear explanation of what the organization does.
For example, it may be obvious that a charity focuses on cancer, but without reviewing its website, you might not know whether it supports research, treatment, awareness, education, or a specific type of cancer.
Websites should provide basic information that can help you make an informed giving decision.
Standard 17 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability calls for charity websites to include the mission statement, a roster of the board, a summary of the past year’s program activities, and financial information, including access to the charity’s most recent IRS Form 990.
When reviewing websites, you should be able to easily find financial information. If the organization’s financial statements aren’t available in the “About Us” section or another prominent area, proceed with caution.
Look for complete IRS Form 990s (where applicable) or audited financial statements, rather than brief summaries that provide limited detail. (Houses of worship and their affiliated entities are not required to file an IRS Form 990.)
While many factors should be considered when choosing charities to support, financial transparency is a key component of trust.
It’s important that privacy policies explain how the charity uses the information it collects and what protections (such as encryption and/or firewalls) are in place to secure personal data.
Keep in mind that charities may collect personal information not only through donor forms but also via emails and other communications.
BBB Charity Standard 18 calls for charity websites to include a clear privacy policy explaining what information they collect, how it’s used, how you can update or limit it, and how it’s protected.
If there is any information you’d like to see or improvements you’d like made to a charity’s website, don’t hesitate to contact the charity. Trustworthy charities appreciate feedback and value your input.
Taking the time to review charity websites can help you give with confidence and encourages organizations to maintain high standards of transparency and accountability.
For even more confidence when giving, we encourage you to search for the charity on Give.org or visit our A-Z National BBB Accredited Charities List.
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
