Step 3: Choose the right nonprofits

Most of us will achieve our charitable mission by supporting a nonprofit organization working on the problem or issue that we care about. But with more than 1.8 million nonprofits operating in the United States, how do you choose? The information here provides you with tools to evaluate a nonprofit.

Five qualities of effective nonprofits

From a clear sense of purpose to having a culture of learning, these are signs of a strong nonprofit organization.

Learn the nonprofit qualities to look for

Questions you should ask every nonprofit: a checklist

Discover the questions you should ask nonprofits to feel confident in your support in this brief guide.

Help in choosing the right nonprofits

How can donors best make an impact on the organizations they care about?

Find out what one donor learned from touring a nonprofit (2:53)

Low overhead does not mean that a charity is more effective

One of the most common measures of nonprofit effectiveness is nearly meaningless, says Lowell Weiss, president of Cascade Philanthropy Advisors. See what he suggests instead.

Learn about evaluating a nonprofit

Research charities

These resources can help you make more informed decisions and feel confident in your giving decisions.

See resources for researching charities

Ready to take the next step?

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Step 1:
Discover your
mission

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Step 2:
Create an action
plan

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Step 3:
Choose the right
nonprofits

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Step 4:
Amplify your
impact

< Previous step | Next step >

About Fidelity Charitable

We're one of the largest grant makers in the country, and our mission is to grow the American tradition of philanthropy by providing programs that make charitable giving accessible, simple, and effective.

Learn more about Fidelity Charitable