September 2001

Information from the Nonprofits Themselves

GuideStar invites nonprofit organizations to enhance their GuideStar Report by providing information about their missions, programs, services, accomplishments, goals, needs, and volunteer opportunities. Nonprofits that do not file a Form 990 can also fill out a basic financial statement modeled after the 990. (All financial data for organizations that do file a 990 or 990-EZ are taken directly from those forms.)

Organizations that provide this information to GuideStar are called GuideStar Participants. The only cost to the nonprofits is the time it takes them to register with GuideStar and complete an online questionnaire. Participants' GuideStar Report are the most complete reports in the database.

To date, nearly 35,000 charitable organizations—more nonprofits than the number that participate in all state nonprofit associations combined—have taken advantage of the opportunity to post their information at GuideStar. Their participation levels the nonprofit playing field by enabling organizations of all sizes—those that file 990s and those that do not—to speak directly to donors and funders.

Many GuideStar participants report that they have benefited greatly from taking the time to update their GuideStar Report; some have received substantial donations and grants as a result of making their information available on GuideStar. Donors note that having mission and program information available to them makes it easier to determine which organizations they wish to support.

Nonprofit participation is the strength of the GuideStar database. To offer a complete picture of the nonprofit sector, GuideStar will continue its efforts—and implement new initiatives—to gain the participation of even more charitable organizations in the country.

Chuck McLean, Elizabeth M. Schmidt, and Suzanne E. Coffman, September 2001
© 2001, Philanthropic Research, Inc.