How do I verify a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?

Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool or GiveRadar using the organization's name or EIN. A legitimate 501(c)(3) will appear with its tax-exempt status, ruling date, and deductibility code. You can also verify the EIN on IRS Form 990 filings.

How do I check if a UK charity is registered?

Search the Charity Commission register at register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk or search on GiveRadar. Every registered UK charity has a charity number you can verify. The register shows financial data, trustees, and governing documents.

Can I verify a charity in any country?

GiveRadar covers charities in 60+ countries with data from official government registries. Search by name or registration number to verify any charity's registration status, financial health, and officer records.

Guide

How to verify a nonprofit organization

Whether you are a donor doing due diligence, a grant-maker vetting applicants, or a company choosing a charity partner, here is how to verify any nonprofit using official data.

Verify registration status

The first step is confirming the nonprofit is actually registered with a government authority. Every country has its own registry:

Country	Registry	What to look for
United States	IRS	EIN, 501(c)(3) status, ruling date
United Kingdom	Charity Commission	Charity number, registration status
Australia	ACNC	ABN, charity subtype, DGR status
Canada	CRA	BN/Registration number, status
Germany	Vereinsregister	VR number, Amtsgericht
60+ more	Search on GiveRadar

Check tax-exempt status

Registration alone does not guarantee tax-exempt status. In the US, verify the organization has 501(c)(3) designation. The subsection code matters:

501(c)(3) - charitable, religious, educational. Donations are tax-deductible.
501(c)(4) - social welfare organizations. Donations are NOT tax-deductible.
501(c)(6) - business leagues, chambers of commerce. NOT tax-deductible.

GiveRadar shows the subsection code and deductibility status for US nonprofits, and equivalent tax status for charities in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries.

Review financial filings

A legitimate nonprofit files regular financial reports with its government regulator. In the US, this is IRS Form 990. In the UK, it is the annual return to the Charity Commission.

Things to check in financial filings:

Are filings current? A charity that stopped filing may have dissolved or be hiding problems.
Is revenue growing or declining? A sharp drop may indicate donor loss or financial trouble.
What is the program spending ratio? At least 65-75% should go to programs.
Is executive pay reasonable? Compare CEO compensation to the total budget.

Verify officers and board members

A well-governed nonprofit has a board of directors that provides oversight. Red flags include:

No disclosed board members
All board members are from the same family
Very small board (fewer than 3 members)
No board meeting records or governance policies

GiveRadar has 9.8 million+ officer records with names, titles, and compensation data. Create a free account to access officer details.

Use GiveRadar for instant verification

Instead of checking multiple government databases, you can verify any charity in one search on GiveRadar:

1Search by name, EIN, or registration number

2See the trust score, registration status, and financial summary

3Check for red flags (auto-detected from official data)

4Review officer records and compensation (free account)

5Get contact details for direct verification

Verify any charity instantly

Registration status, financials, officers, and red flags for 8 million+ nonprofits.

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