February 2002

• General
• Especially for Foundations
• Registering and Logging In

Since June 2000, GuideStar has conducted several user surveys. Part of the response we've received from survey participants is feedback concerning the information they'd like to find on a nonprofit's GuideStar Report.

You can provide much of this information in your organization's GuideStar Information Form (GIF). There is no charge to update your GIF, and the information you provide will appear in your organization's GuideStar Report. Read more about updating your GIF at the bottom of this page.

Here's what our users have told us. We have suggested places in the GIF where you can provide this information.

General 

• Acronym(s) used by your organization–Step 1, Org. Abbreviation; Step 2, One Sentence Description; Step 2, Organization Mission; Step 2, Operating Programs
  
  If your organization has a "doing business as name," you can include it in Step 2, One Sentence Description; Step 2, Organization Mission; or Step 2, Operating Programs.
  
  
• Web site address–Step 1, Organization Information
  
  
• Number of employees–Step 4, Employees
  
  
• Up-to-date address, telephone number, and contact person–Step 1, Contact Information
  
  If your organization has more than one address, such as a general address and a separate one for your fundraising or development office, list your main address in Step 1, Contact Information. Use Step 2, Additional Comments, to list the second address.
  
  
• NTEE codes–Step 2, NTEE Codes
  
  GuideStar users want to search for organizations by category. The GIF allows you to provide up to three National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) codes. By providing three different codes, you make it more likely that users will find your organization when they do category searches. Review the codes >
  
  
• Types of contributions your organization accepts–Step 2, Funding, for contributions and grants; Step 2, Operating Programs, and Step 2, Additional Comments, for gifts in kind and special needs
  
  
• Geographic area(s) served by your organization– Step 2, Geographic Reach
  
  
• Who your organization's primary supporters are–Step 2, Organization Mission; Step 2, Operating Programs; Step 2, Additional Comments
  
  
• That your organization is a national or international headquarters, if applicable–Step 2, One Sentence Description; Step 2, Organization Mission; Step 2, Operating Programs; Step 2, Additional Comments
  
  
• The number of chapters that exist for your organization, if applicable–Step 2, Organization Mission; Step 2, Additional Comments
  
  
• How much of your organization's income is spent on programs and how much is spent on administration–GuideStar Basic Information Form (GBFS), lines 14-15
  
  Only organizations that do not file IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ complete the GBFS. If your organization files either form, GuideStar will obtain this information from your 990.

Especially for Foundations 

• Types of programs your foundation funds; types of grants your foundation awards–Step 2, Organization Mission; Step 2, Operating Programs; Step 2, Additional Comments
  
  
• Proposal guidelines–Step 2, Organization Mission; Step 2, Operating Programs; Step 2, Additional Comments
  
  
• List of organizations that have received grants from your foundation–Step 2, Operating Programs; Step 2, Additional Comments
  
  
• Names of your board members–Step 4, Board Members

Registering and Logging In 

If your organization has not registered with GuideStar, select the Register Your Nonprofit button from the left-hand toolbar and follow the instructions. If your organization has already registered with GuideStar, select the Nonprofit Login button, log in, and select the  Update GIF button in your account manager.

Suzanne E. Coffman, July 2000; updated February 2002
© 2000, 2002, Philanthropic Research, Inc.