Site lets users see charities’ finances

Site lets users see charities' finances

Donors can get idea how money is used

Tempe resident Laura Enwall wanted to give some extra money to a charity this season, but she wanted to know that her money would go toward helping animals, not towards someone's inflated salary. That's when she found CharityNavigator.org, a Web site that rates the financial information on charities in all 50 sates. Charity Navigator lists 10 four-star charities in the Phoenix area, which means they have been deemed "exceptional," or exceeding financial standards and highly performing in their particular area. Enwall found the Arizona Animal Welfare League on the site. "It was just what I was looking for because they break down the group's fiannces," she said. "It even gives you what the executive director makes, and the (Welfare League's) was like 2 percent of its expenses, and it's a no-kill shelter, so that's what I wanted." To view the four-star Arizona charities, go to CharityNavigator.org, then click "4-star charities" on the right-hand side of the page. Users can search a charity by name or look through a list organized by category or by state. Under Arizona, each page provides background on the charity, an address, phone number and the charity's Web site, where more information is available.
But perhaps most useful is the financial information that provides data on the charity's administrative costs, program expenses, total expenses and total revenue. Charity Navigator, which dubs itself "America's largest charity evaluator," started in 2002 and checks out more than 5,000 charities in the nation. "It's for the typical donor at the kitchen table," said Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing for the New Jersey-based organization. She said the charities' financial information comes from the documents filed by the non-profits with the Internal Revenue Service. Local charity officials called the site a positive resource for consumers. "It's a great tool for use because it gives us a chance to demonstrate our credibility," said Steve Owen, vice president of advancement at Arizona Animal Welfare League.

At the Arizona Community Foundation, Megan Brownell said most of its donors give endowments of $25,000 or more so that the money can continue to be used in the future. "We appreciate the four-star rating," said Brownell, vice president of marketing/communication, adding that many of her organization's donors use GuideStar.org. "It's just more well-known in the industry." Web sites such as GuideStar.org and Give.org also provide consumers with detailed backgrounds on thousands of charities. In addition, the American Institute of Philanthropy's Web site, CharityWatch.org, provides ratings and news about charities that solicit donors. But for Enwall, Charity Navigator offered an easy way to see the top-rated charities in Phoenix. "I've been recommending it to all my friends," said the 35-year-old computer programmer. "(The site) has a lot of useful information and tips."

She especially liked its "top 10 lists," such as the 10 charities in deep financial trouble (No.1 was American Christian Cause, which owed more than $2 million) and the 10 highest-paid CEOs at low-rated charities (No. 1 was the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where the director's salary was listed at $677,125)

by Ray parker