Charity Checker: Free Nonprofit Status Check

How to Check if a Charity is Legitimate

Before donating to any charity, it's important to verify that it's a real, registered organization that uses donations effectively. Here's what to look for:

1. Check Registration Status

Legitimate charities are registered with a government authority. In the US, that's the IRS. In the UK, it's the Charity Commission. GiveRadar shows registration numbers and status for charities in 100+ countries.

2. Look at Financial Transparency

Does the charity file financial reports? What's their overhead ratio? How much goes to programs versus administration? Charities that don't disclose financials are a red flag. On GiveRadar, you can see revenue, expenses, assets, and program spending breakdowns.

3. Check Executive Compensation

How much does the CEO earn? Is it reasonable for the organization's size? GiveRadar shows executive compensation data from tax filings so you can judge for yourself.

4. Look for Red Flags

GiveRadar automatically detects warning signs: high executive pay, stale filings (a gap of five years or more), and bare-minimum disclosure. User-reported concerns are also displayed.

5. Read Reviews

What do donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries say? GiveRadar shows verified reviews from people who've interacted with the charity directly.

What a Nonprofit Status Check Tells You

"Status" means the organization's current standing with its government regulator. A status check answers three questions: is the organization registered, is that registration still active (not revoked, removed, or dissolved), and are donations to it tax-deductible?

For US nonprofits, status comes from the IRS: use our 501(c)(3) lookup to confirm tax-exempt status, the EIN lookup to find an organization by tax ID, and the Form 990 lookup to read its filings. Whether your gift is deductible is covered in tax-deductible charities.

Outside the US, every country has its own regulator: the Charity Commission in England and Wales, OSCR in Scotland, the ACNC in Australia, the CRA in Canada, and so on. GiveRadar pulls from these official registries, so one search checks a nonprofit's status wherever it is registered.

Common Charity Scam Warning Signs

• Pressure to donate immediately - Legitimate charities don't rush you.
• Cash-only requests - Real charities accept checks, cards, and online payments.
• Vague about their mission - They can't explain what they do with donations.
• Name sounds like a famous charity - Scammers use similar names to confuse you.
• No registration number - They can't provide proof of registration.
• No financial disclosures - They won't show you their spending.

Alternatives to GiveRadar

While GiveRadar is the most comprehensive global charity database (6 million+ charities in 100+ countries), other resources exist for specific regions:

• Charity Navigator - Rates ~200K US charities. Good for US-only research.
• GuideStar (Candid) - US nonprofit database with 990 filings.
• Give.org (BBB Wise Giving Alliance) - Evaluates US charities against standards.
• Charity Commission (UK) - Official UK charity register.
• ACNC (Australia) - Australian charities register.

Many donors run a GuideStar charity check for US organizations; GiveRadar covers those same IRS records plus official registries from dozens of other countries, in one searchable platform.

Charity Checker FAQ

How do I check a nonprofit's status?

Search the nonprofit's name or registration number in a charity checker like GiveRadar. The profile shows whether the organization is registered with its government regulator (such as the IRS in the US or the Charity Commission in the UK), its registration number, and whether that status is still active. For US organizations you can also confirm 501(c)(3) status directly from IRS data.

How can I verify a charity before donating?

Verify five things: the charity is registered with a government authority, it files financial reports, its overhead and executive pay are reasonable for its size, it has no red flags such as years-old filings or bare-minimum disclosure, and reviews from donors or volunteers look genuine. GiveRadar shows all five on one page for free.

Is the GiveRadar charity checker free?

Yes. Checking a charity's registration status, integrity assessment, financials, leadership, and red flags on GiveRadar is free and requires no account.

How do I find a nonprofit's 501(c)(3) status?

Search the organization's name or EIN. A US nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status is listed in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization data, which GiveRadar includes. Its profile shows the EIN, tax-exempt status, and whether donations are tax-deductible.

What is the difference between GiveRadar and GuideStar or Charity Navigator?

GuideStar (Candid) and Charity Navigator cover US nonprofits. GiveRadar covers 6,000,000 charities across 100+ countries using official government registries, so you can run the same status check on a UK, Dutch, Australian, or Kenyan charity as on a US one.