Check a Charity
How to Check a Charity in 10 Minutes
Ten minutes of checking can save you from a scam, a sound-alike name or a badly run organization. Here's exactly where to look.
Step 1: Confirm it with the IRS (3 minutes)
Go to the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. Search by the organization's name or, better, its EIN (employer identification number), which a legitimate charity will give you if you ask. TEOS tells you:
- Whether the organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
- Whether its exemption was automatically revoked. This happens when an organization fails to file its required annual return three years in a row.
- Copies of recent Form 990 returns and, for small groups, their e-Postcard (Form 990-N) filings.
Watch the name. Scammers often use names that sound almost like a well-known charity. Check the city, state and EIN, not just the name.
A note on churches: churches, synagogues, mosques and similar houses of worship are automatically treated as tax-exempt and aren't required to apply or file a Form 990. Not finding one in TEOS isn't a red flag by itself. Ask the congregation for its denominational affiliation or a written statement of its status.
Step 2: Skim the Form 990 (5 minutes)
Most charities with gross receipts over $50,000 file a Form 990 or 990-EZ every year, and it's a public document. You can find it in TEOS, on Candid (GuideStar), or on ProPublica's free Nonprofit Explorer. Look for:
- Revenue and expenses over a few years. Steady or growing is good; wild swings deserve a question.
- Program service accomplishments (Part III): what it actually did.
- Officer and key employee pay (Part VII).
- Expense breakdown (Part IX): programs, management and fundraising.
Our guide How to Read a Form 990 shows which lines matter most.
Step 3: Check your state and a watchdog (2 minutes)
Most states require charities to register before asking residents for money, usually with the attorney general or secretary of state. The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) links to every state office. Many of these offices also post complaints and enforcement actions.
Then look the charity up with an independent evaluator such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) or Charity Navigator. If it's reviewed, read the details, not just the badge.
Red flags that should stop you
- Pressure to give right now, on the phone or at your door.
- Requests for payment by cash, gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- Thanking you for a pledge you don't remember making.
- Vague answers about how the money is used, or refusal to send written information.
- A promise that you'll win a prize or sweepstakes in exchange for giving.
- A brand-new organization that appeared right after a disaster or tragedy in the news.
More on these in How to Spot a Charity Scam.
Questions to ask the charity directly
- What's your EIN and legal name?
- What will my gift of this size accomplish?
- How do you measure results? Can you send your latest annual report?
- If a fundraiser is calling: Are you an employee, a volunteer or a paid fundraiser? How much of my gift reaches the charity?
Use the 12-point Charity Check
Tick off each step as you go. Your answers save on this device.
Questions people ask
How can I tell if a charity is legitimate?
Search its name in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, check that its status hasn't been revoked, read its latest Form 990, and confirm it's registered with your state's charity office if your state requires it.
Why can't I find my church in the IRS search?
Churches are automatically treated as tax-exempt and aren't required to apply to the IRS or file a Form 990, so many don't appear. Contributions to a church that qualifies are still deductible.
Is a charity with no rating a bad charity?
No. Most small and local charities are never rated. A missing rating just means you'll rely more on the IRS search, the Form 990 and a conversation with the charity.