Charity Navigator — Nonprofit Rating Service

Donor-facing nonprofit rating service evaluating financial health, accountability, transparency, and impact measurement for nonprofit organizations.

Charity Navigator is the most widely used donor-facing nonprofit rating service in the U.S., rating thousands of nonprofits on financial health, accountability, transparency, and impact measurement. Donors frequently check Charity Navigator before making gift decisions, especially for larger unfamiliar organizations. Strong ratings can meaningfully influence fundraising success. Small watershed nonprofits typically need revenues over $1 million to be rated by Charity Navigator, but can still create a profile with basic information. Understanding the rating criteria helps guide financial management decisions even for smaller organizations. The ratings emphasize strong governance, reasonable administrative costs, fundraising efficiency, and financial reserves.