Research findings:
nonprofit transparency pays off

Transparency matters

New research* reveals that transparent nonprofits received more contributions and were stronger organizations.

Villanova University and University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee researchers compared nonprofits that earned a GuideStar Seal of Transparency to those that did not.

Nonprofits that earned a Seal averaged 53% more in contributions the following year than organizations with no Seal.

The research also found organizations that elect to be more transparent had stronger performance across a range of governance, financial, and operational dimensions.

Want to earn a GuideStar Seal of Transparency for your nonprofit?

Your profile matters
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Organizations with a GuideStar Seal of Transparency received 53% more in contributions

GuideStar’s research indicates value of Seals of Transparency

GuideStar has found that profiles with Gold or Platinum Seals get twice the views as other profiles.

Your profile matters
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Profiles with Gold or Platinum Seals are viewed 2x more

Donors want to give to transparent organizations

A new Give.org report shows that a nonprofit’s accomplishments are the number one factor in establishing donor trust.

According to Give.org’s report, the top reasons inspiring trust are the charity's accomplishments, reputation, and financials.

On the flip side, donors cited greed and high compensation, negative reputation, and lack of honesty and transparency as the most common reasons to distrust a charity.

Show you are transparent

Earn a Seal of Transparency today by updating your GuideStar Nonprofit Profile for free. It allows your nonprofit to reach GuideStar's 10 million annual users and millions more via the 200+ philanthropic websites and applications that are powered by GuideStar data, such as Facebook, and Network for Good.

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