A new rating system makes it easier to verify that your donations are going to a worthy charity. Charity Navigator has long been the arbiter of charities’ bona fides. Its new 2.0 rating system now measures accountability and transparency as well as financial health.
Seventeen new gauges were added, such as whether a charity has independent board members, a conflict-of-interest policy or a board audit committee. CEO Ken Berger says the ratings help people assess the risk of donating to a particular charity. “If an organization doesn’t have these policies and practices, then even if it’s financially healthy there’s a higher risk that your contribution may not be spent as you desire.”
When Charity Navigator applied its new system to the nearly 5,500 charities it evaluates, results were mixed. Scores changed for half of the organizations. For 60% of those, the change was positive, and there was an 8% increase in the number of charities with a three-star (out of four) or better rating. But 40% of the 1,200 top-rated charities saw their ratings drop.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
-
Your Guide to Buying Art OnlineFrom virtual galleries to social media platforms, the internet offers plenty of places to shop for paintings, sculptures and other artwork without breaking the bank.
-
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $4.99 a Month: A Closer Look at Verizon’s DealVerizon’s aggressive pricing makes Samsung’s top-tier phone tempting, but the real cost depends on your plan and how long you stay.
-
I'm 59 with $1.7 million saved and lost my job. Should I retire?We asked professional wealth planners for advice.
-
9 Types of Insurance You Probably Don't NeedFinancial Planning If you're paying for these types of insurance, you may be wasting your money. Here's what you need to know.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
457 Plan Contribution Limits for 2026Retirement plans There are higher 457 plan contribution limits in 2026. That's good news for state and local government employees.
-
Medicare Basics: 12 Things You Need to KnowMedicare There's Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. We sort out the confusion about signing up for Medicare — and much more.
-
The Seven Worst Assets to Leave Your Kids or Grandkidsinheritance Leaving these assets to your loved ones may be more trouble than it’s worth. Here's how to avoid adding to their grief after you're gone.
-
SEP IRA Contribution Limits for 2026SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $70,000 in 2025, and up to $72,000 in 2026.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
SIMPLE IRA Contribution Limits for 2026simple IRA For 2026, the SIMPLE IRA contribution limit rises to $17,000, with a $4,000 catch-up for those 50 and over, totaling $21,000.
