Glossary

1. GiveRadar terms

Concepts that are specific to how GiveRadar evaluates and labels charities. For the full scoring formula see our Methodology.

Integrity Assessment

A 0-100 score we publish for every charity we cover. It starts from a base of 30 and adds up to 70 points across five components, with up to 25 points of penalty for red flags. Replaces what was previously called "trust score". Self-reported components are capped at 70 to discourage gaming.

Registration verification

Component 1 of the Integrity Assessment (up to 20 pts). Awarded for an official government registration ID, presence in an official registry, cross-reference from two or more independent sources, and whether the profile has been claimed and verified by the organization.

Financial transparency

Component 2 (up to 20 pts). Awarded for filing recent financial statements, disclosing program/admin/fundraising splits, publishing executive compensation, and reporting consistent year-over-year financials.

Organizational transparency

Component 3 (up to 15 pts). Awarded for publishing mission, governance, officer list, contact details, donation policy, and a working website.

Third-party assessment

Component 4 (up to 10 pts). Reflects external ratings such as Charity Navigator, Candid seal, BBB accreditation or country-specific certifications (DZI, ZEWO, etc.).

Community signals

Component 5 (up to 5 pts). Reviews, ratings and news coverage. Capped low because reviews are easy to manipulate.

Red flag

An automatically detected concern surfaced regardless of score. Types include high executive pay, low program spending, missing filings, governance concerns, sanctions matches and user reports. Each carries a severity (info / warning / critical).

Verified charity

A profile that has been claimed and confirmed by an authorized representative of the organization. Verified charities can edit their profile; their owner-edited fields are protected from being overwritten by re-imports.

Data completeness

A 0-100 percentage of how many of GiveRadar's tracked fields (description, website, financials, mission, etc.) are filled in for a given charity. Low completeness lowers your confidence in any individual score.

Data recency

How recently a charity's most important fields were updated from source data. Stale records (e.g. financials older than 5 years) reduce the recency score.

Contact availability

Whether GiveRadar has discoverable contact details (email, phone, postal address, donation URL) for the charity. A signal of how reachable they are for donors.

2. Charity types and legal status

501(c)(3)

United States tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), reserved for charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary organizations. Donations are tax-deductible for US donors. The most common nonprofit form in the US.

501(c)(4)

US tax-exempt status for social welfare organizations (advocacy, lobbying-permitted groups). Donations are not tax-deductible. Sometimes confused with 501(c)(3).

Public charity

A 501(c)(3) that receives broad public support (typically more than one-third of revenue from many small donors or government grants). The default form for most operating charities.

Private foundation

A 501(c)(3) funded mostly by a single source (a family, individual or corporation). Typically grants money rather than running programs. Subject to stricter IRS rules and lower deduction limits than public charities.

Donor-advised fund (DAF)

A giving account held at a sponsoring public charity. Donors take an immediate tax deduction when funding the account, then recommend grants to other charities over time.

Supporting organization

A 501(c)(3) classified under section 509(a)(3), legally tied to one or more public charities. Treated as a public charity for deduction purposes despite usually receiving funding from a small group.

Foundation (international)

The umbrella term outside the US for charitable legal entities: Stichting (Netherlands), Stiftung (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Fondation (France), Fundación (Spain). Rules vary widely - some are equivalent to US public charities, others to private foundations.

NGO / CSO

Non-Governmental Organization (international term) and Civil Society Organization (broader, includes informal community groups). Used most often outside the US for charities operating across borders or in development contexts.

3. US regulatory IDs and filings

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

The unique 9-digit federal tax ID assigned by the IRS to every US nonprofit (and every US business). Sometimes written as XX-XXXXXXX. The primary lookup key for any US charity.

Form 990

The annual information return US tax-exempt organizations file with the IRS, disclosing finances, governance and program activity. Public record. Variants: 990 (large orgs), 990-EZ (mid-size), 990-PF (private foundations), 990-N e-Postcard (very small orgs - just a confirmation of activity), 990-T (unrelated business income).

NTEE code

National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities - a 3-4 character code (e.g. B82, P20, E20) identifying a US nonprofit's primary activity. The first letter is the major group (A = Arts, B = Education, E = Health, etc.); digits narrow it down.

Subsection code

A 2-digit code on IRS records indicating which subsection of 501(c) the org is exempt under (03 for 501(c)(3), 04 for 501(c)(4), and so on). 03 covers most charities you'll see on GiveRadar.

Deductibility code

A 1-digit code on IRS records indicating whether donations to the org are tax-deductible. 1 = yes (deductible); 2 = not deductible; other codes denote special circumstances.

Foundation status (509(a))

How the IRS classifies a 501(c)(3): 509(a)(1) publicly supported by donations, 509(a)(2) publicly supported by program revenue, 509(a)(3) supporting organization, or "private foundation" if none apply.

Ruling date

The date the IRS granted tax-exempt status. Useful as an "official birthday" - usually within a few years of when the charity was actually founded.

Group exemption

An IRS arrangement that lets a parent organization (e.g. a religious denomination, scouts council, fraternal society) cover its subordinates with a single ruling rather than each chapter applying separately.

4. International regulators and IDs

Charity Commission (UK)

Three regulators across the UK: CCEW (Charity Commission for England and Wales), OSCR (Scotland) and CCNI (Northern Ireland). Each maintains its own register and assigns its own charity numbers.

UK charity number

The registration number assigned by one of the UK regulators (e.g. CCEW number 1234567). Always check the matching regulator - a number alone isn't unique across the UK.

ACNC

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission - the national regulator that maintains the public register of Australian charities and assigns each one an ABN (Australian Business Number).

CRA

Canada Revenue Agency - the federal tax authority that registers and oversees Canadian charities, requires the annual T3010 information return, and assigns BN/RR numbers.

ANBI

Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling - Dutch tax-status that lets donors deduct gifts and lets the charity receive donations tax-free. Similar in effect to US 501(c)(3). The Dutch tax authority publishes a public ANBI register.

Gemeinnützigkeit

German "charitable status" granted by local tax offices (Finanzamt). Required for tax-deductible donations in Germany. Does not have a single national register; published in commercial registers and via individual tax-office certificates.

Stiftung / Stichting / Fondation

Equivalent of "foundation" in German, Dutch and French. A legal entity with assets dedicated to a stated purpose. Some are operating charities, others purely grant-making.

Gift Aid (UK)

UK tax scheme that lets registered charities reclaim 25p of basic-rate tax for every £1 a UK taxpayer donates. Donors must sign a Gift Aid declaration.

IATI Identifier

International Aid Transparency Initiative ID. A globally unique identifier used by aid donors and implementers to publish standardized data about aid activities.

TGE (Transnational Giving Europe)

A network of European foundations that lets donors in one TGE country make tax-effective gifts to charities in another TGE country. 21 European countries currently participate.

5. Financial terms

Annual revenue

Total income for the fiscal year - donations, grants, program fees, investment income, in-kind contributions, etc. Roughly the "size" of the charity.

Annual expenses

Total spending for the fiscal year, broken into program, administrative and fundraising buckets.

Program expenses / program spend ratio

Money spent directly on the charity's mission - food, shelter, research, advocacy, etc. The program spend ratio is program expenses divided by total expenses. Often misleading on its own: a low ratio can reflect bloated overhead, but also a year of necessary fundraising or capacity-building investment.

Administrative expenses / overhead ratio

Operations: leadership salaries, accounting, HR, IT, office costs. The overhead ratio is admin (and sometimes admin + fundraising) divided by total expenses. The "overhead myth" - that low overhead = good charity - is widely debunked; sustained underinvestment in operations typically harms outcomes.

Fundraising expenses / fundraising ratio

Cost of raising money (events, direct mail, donor acquisition, fundraising staff). The fundraising ratio is fundraising expenses divided by total contributions. Above ~25% is considered high for an established charity but normal for new or rapidly growing ones.

Total assets

Everything the charity owns - cash, investments, real estate, equipment, receivables. Reported at end of fiscal year.

Total liabilities

Everything the charity owes - accounts payable, mortgages, deferred revenue, pension obligations.

Net assets

Assets minus liabilities. The nonprofit equivalent of "equity" or "net worth". Subdivided into unrestricted, temporarily restricted and permanently restricted portions.

Endowment

A pool of donated assets the charity is required (legally or by donor intent) to keep invested and only spend the income from. Common at universities, museums and large foundations.

Fiscal year

The 12-month accounting period a charity uses. Many follow the calendar year; others use July-June or Oct-Sep. The IRS Form 990 is filed for the charity's fiscal year, not the calendar year.

Restricted vs unrestricted funds

"Restricted" donations must be used for the donor's stated purpose (e.g. earthquake relief). "Unrestricted" funds can be used wherever the charity decides. Most charities argue unrestricted gifts are the most useful.

6. Governance

Board of directors / trustees

The volunteer (usually unpaid) governing body legally responsible for the charity's direction, finances and compliance. Called "directors" in the US, "trustees" in the UK and some Commonwealth countries, "Vorstand" in Germany.

Officer

A senior person empowered to act on behalf of the charity - usually CEO/Executive Director, CFO, COO, board chair, treasurer, secretary. Officers are a subset of the board on smaller charities; separate paid staff at larger ones.

Top executive compensation

The CEO's or Executive Director's total reportable pay - salary, bonus, deferred compensation, retirement contributions, taxable benefits. Disclosed on Form 990 Schedule J for any US charity that pays a key person more than ~$100K. High pay isn't automatically bad; very high pay relative to org size or mission is a red flag.

Conflict of interest policy

A written policy requiring board members and officers to disclose financial interests in transactions the charity considers, and to recuse themselves from related decisions. Form 990 asks whether the charity has one.

Whistleblower policy

A written policy protecting staff or volunteers from retaliation for reporting suspected misconduct. Form 990 asks whether the charity has one. Considered a basic governance hygiene check.

7. Risk and compliance

Sanctions list

Government-published lists of individuals and entities that other parties are prohibited from doing business with. Major lists: OFAC SDN (US Treasury), EU Consolidated (European Council), UN Security Council, plus UK OFSI, Canada, Australia. Donors and grantmakers are legally required to screen against the lists relevant to their jurisdiction.

Sanctions match

A name overlap between a charity (or one of its officers) and a sanctions list entry. A match is a starting signal for further investigation, not a guilty verdict - many matches are false positives (common names, deceased individuals, distinct legal entities).

PEP (Politically Exposed Person)

A person currently or recently in a prominent public role (head of state, minister, judge, military officer, executive of a state-owned enterprise) and their close family/associates. Not inherently corrupt, but considered a higher money-laundering risk by financial institutions.

AML (Anti-Money Laundering)

Laws and procedures designed to detect and prevent the conversion of illegally obtained funds into apparently legitimate assets. Applies to financial institutions; charities may be drawn in via large donations or international wire transfers.

Due diligence

The process of verifying a charity before donating, granting or partnering. Typically: confirm registration, review last filed financials, check sanctions/PEP lists, look for adverse news, and confirm the legal name matches the entity you intend to support.

Watchlist screening

Automated checking of names (charity name, officers, beneficial owners) against multiple lists - sanctions, PEP, adverse media, debarment lists. Routine for grantmakers, foundations and many corporate giving programs.

8. Donor concepts

Tax deductibility

Whether your gift reduces your taxable income. Depends on (1) your country, (2) the charity's status in that country, (3) your own tax situation. A US 501(c)(3) is deductible for a US donor but not automatically for a German donor; cross-border deductibility usually requires special arrangements (TGE, intermediary friend foundations, etc.).

Matching gift

An employer commitment to match employee charitable donations, usually 1:1 up to an annual cap. Doubles the impact of your gift if your employer offers it.

Planned giving

Gifts arranged during the donor's lifetime but received by the charity in the future - bequests in wills, charitable remainder trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts.

In-kind donation

A gift of goods or services rather than cash - food, equipment, professional services, real estate. Can be tax-deductible at fair market value, with caveats.

Recurring donation

An automatic, repeating gift (typically monthly). Predictable revenue for the charity is far more valuable than a single annual gift of equal size.

Crowdfunding

Public online fundraising campaigns (GoFundMe, JustGiving, Givealittle, Betterplace, etc.). Most platforms are not charity registries - a campaign can be run by an individual without any tax-exempt status.

9. Other charity rating and information bodies

Charity Navigator

US-based rating service that scores 501(c)(3) charities with revenue above $1M on financial efficiency and accountability/transparency. 1-4 star and 0-100 score. Free public access.

Candid (formerly GuideStar)

Largest US nonprofit data clearinghouse. Awards Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum "Seals of Transparency" based on how much information a charity discloses on the platform. Self-attested rather than independently verified.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance

US service that evaluates charities against 20 standards covering governance, finances, fundraising and effectiveness. Charities meeting all 20 standards earn the BBB Charity Seal.

GiveWell

Independent research org that publishes a short list of "top charities" judged by deep cost-effectiveness analysis - typically global health interventions. Very narrow but rigorous; not a comprehensive directory.

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Free public search of US Form 990 filings, run by the journalism nonprofit ProPublica. Best for downloading and reading the source filings rather than for ratings.

Trustpilot

Open consumer-review platform. Useful as a sanity check on donor experience, with the standard caveats about review platforms (volunteer bias, gameable, can include unrelated businesses with similar names).

ZEWO

Swiss certification mark for charities, run by the Swiss Foundation for Consumer Protection. Awarded after a multi-criteria audit; renewed every 5 years.

DZI

Deutsches Zentralinstitut fuer soziale Fragen - the German social-issues institute. Awards the "DZI Spendensiegel" (donation seal) to charities that pass an annual financial and governance review.

10. Categorization

NTEE major categories

The first-letter prefix of an NTEE code indicates the broad activity area: A Arts/Culture, B Education, C Environment, D Animal Welfare, E-H Health, I-N Human Services (crime, employment, food, housing, public safety, recreation), O Youth Development, P Human Services (general), Q International, R Civil Rights/Social Action, S Community Development, T Philanthropy/Voluntarism, U Science/Tech, V Social Science, W Public Benefit, X Religion, Y Mutual Benefit, Z Unknown.

Cause tags

GiveRadar's free-form thematic labels (e.g. "refugees", "climate", "cancer", "literacy") attached to a charity beyond its formal regulatory category. Generated from the charity's mission, registry category and external classifications. Used for cause-specific search and rankings.

SDG goals

The UN Sustainable Development Goals - 17 targets covering poverty, hunger, health, education, gender, water, energy, climate and more. Useful for matching charities to international development priorities.

Term you wanted that isn't here? Email us and we'll add it. For the full scoring formula see Methodology; for the registries we pull from, Data sources.