There are more than 1.9 million registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the United States alone. Knowing how to choose a charity to donate to can be daunting if you’re not sure where to begin. After all, you’ve worked hard for your money—you want to make sure it’s going to do as much good as possible.

To make the best choice for you, consider five core elements: 

• Eligibility  
• Mission 
• Geographic Scope 
• Type of Engagement 
• Successes
  
  

Eligibility  

Start with a yes or no question: is this an organization that is recognized by the IRS and in good standing (meaning it meets IRS and state requirements to keep its tax-exempt status)? You can search the IRS database directly to check a nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status. You can also use nonprofit verification platforms, independent organizations that research and rate nonprofits, like Candid (formerly GuideStar) or Charity Navigator to research a charity’s standing. Some nonprofits have “trusted charity” badges from these platforms at the bottom of their website that link off to their profile pages; just make sure they’re up to date with the current year. You can also look for the nonprofit’s most recent IRS Form 990 (their annual financial disclosure) and/or audited financial statement, which should be readily available to the public via a quick web search.

Mission 

What cause(s) do you want to support? What issues—from food security to curing childhood cancer—mean the most to you? Once you have a list of one or more topics, you have a place to start.  

When evaluating the best charities to donate to, consider how well an organization’s mission and charitable activities align with your values and future goals. 

Geographic Scope 

Once you’ve determined the mission, it’s time to think about what scope or level of reach you want the work you’re supporting to have. Do you want to keep your support local? Then you’ll want to find a group in your community that aligns with your values. If you’d rather support programs taking place on a larger scale, consider nonprofits working at the national or international levels. National nonprofits may also have local, state, or regional groups (frequently called “chapters”) that you can engage with.   

Type of Engagement

It’s time to decide in what ways you’d like to be involved. Some donors prefer to show their support through financial gifts only, while others enjoy volunteering their time and skills to their favorite nonprofits. If you’d like to support an organization that hosts events and encourages community participation, keep this in mind when assessing options. Check for pages on the charity’s website related to local events and volunteer opportunities.  

If you’re considering nonprofits that work on a national or international scale, check to see if they have any local chapters in your city, state, or region. Often, these chapters are the ones organizing in-person activities.

Successes

When a nonprofit talks about their successes, consider how these are being communicated to you. Look for concrete data and stats, annual reports, program breakdowns with photos and videos, articles, in-depth web pages, and testimonials from recipients of the nonprofit’s support. While programs may be ongoing, the charity should be able to clearly communicate the good work that’s already been done and what they plan to achieve in the future.

Now you’re equipped to pick a charity to support! When you’re ready, visit the EarthShare Giving Platform to donate to hundreds of vetted environmental nonprofits (and more than 1.5 million other registered 501(c)(3) charities) all in one place.