How many times have you read online reviews this week?
These days, it’s become second nature to read online reviews. A business’ online reputation is everything. The same should be true for nonprofits. You read reviews before you spend money at a new restaurant, or on electronics, why not read reviews before you give to charity?
The best way to learn about a nonprofit’s impact is to read about it firsthand from donors, clients and volunteers. The homeless mom who was given shelter, the 3rd grade class that got to clean up a beach, the donor who saw their money directly at work; these are the testimonials that are so important when making the decision to give.
And if you have given time or other resources to a nonprofit, make sure you write a review of your own experience.
Have online reviews influenced your decision to donate? What do you look for in reviews before you decide to give? What does not weigh into your donation decisions?
Did you know that GreatNonprofits influences 30 million donation decisions a year (and it’s free)?
We know nonprofits rely on positive word of mouth to do their work most effectively. Online reviews have huge reach, so how do you get your first review?
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Did you know that your local Little League is a nonprofit?
You visit nonprofits more often than you might think. Have you been to a museum lately? How about services at your local church or synagogue? Or maybe your children play sports in Little League? Many public libraries are supported by nonprofit foundations and even some zoos and aquariums.
So, you’ve probably visited a nonprofit this week without even knowing it! GreatNonprofits lists every 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the country. That means your neighborhood place of worship, library, favorite museum and little league can all be reviewed on our site! Now is the time to write reviews about your local nonprofits. The easiest way to help nonprofits in your community get more attention and funding is to write a quick review today! Plus they could win a spot on our 2013 Top-Rated List. Start by searching by your zip code.
Donors to charities are often advised to give to an organization only if the money goes directly to program expenses, rather than to administrative ones. We want to feel like our money is directly cleaning up a waterway, tutoring kids after school or feeding the homeless, not going toward admin costs.
But do the most effective groups actually spend less on administrative costs? A new study points to just the opposite. The analysis uses data compiled by GiveWell. The group ranked nonprofits using criteria such as impact and cost-effective activities. The nonprofits that the group would recommend ended up spending more on administrative costs on average than those that the group would not recommend.
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A week after the Boston Marathon explosions, our thoughts remain with those who were affected by the bombing. We are awed and inspired by the heroic acts of the first responders and civilians who helped. The bombs left three dead and 282 injured. Are you looking to help out with a donation but don’t know where to give? These organizations are accepting donations for victims.
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Seattle has the most Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits of any city in Washington, with 3 Top-Rated nonprofits. These
nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on the
greatnonprofits.org website.
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Arlington has the most Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits of any city in Virginia, with 4 Top-Rated nonprofits. These
nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on the greatnonprofits.org website.
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Denver has the most
Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits of any city in Colorado, with 2 top rated nonprofits. These
nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on the
greatnonprofits.org website.
“In celebration of Earth Day 2013 GreatNonprofits is focused on increasing the awareness of leading
environmental nonprofits and the cities that host them. These nonprofits achieved Top-Rated status
because their clients, donors and volunteers chose to review them and bestow a high rating. There are
over 58,000 environmental nonprofits on our site and 2 of the top rated are based in Denver,” said Perla
Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits.
The Top-Rated Environmental Non Profits in Denver Colorado are:
Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership, Inc.: “ Sand Creek is a Non-Profit dedicated to acheiving
environmental sustainability through collaboration and community building. The members of SCRGP
work to make it possible for citizens of the Denver and Denver metro area to connect with nature in an
urban environment.” 2012 Review
Earth Force, Inc.:” I love how Earth Force has found its niche in empowering young people to become
catalysts for environmental change in their communities.” 2012 Review
All nonprofit donors, sponsors, clients and volunteers are welcome to review their favorite nonprofits
at www.greatnonprofits.org. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for our 2013 Top-Rated
Award. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 for your favorite nonprofit to be considered for a Top-
Rated Award .
Cities with the most Top-Rated nonprofits include Tucson, Arizona; Palo Alto, California; Denver
Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Arlington Virginia and Seattle Washington.
GreatNonprofits today announced that Boston has the most
Top-Rated Environmental Non Profits of any city in Massachusetts, with 2 top rated nonprofits. These
nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on the
greatnonprofits.org website.
“In celebration of Earth Day 2013 GreatNonprofits is focused on increasing the awareness of leading
environmental nonprofits and the cities that host them. These nonprofits achieved Top-Rated status
because their clients, donors and volunteers chose to review them and bestow a high rating. There are
over 58,000 environmental nonprofits on our site and 2 of the top rated are based in Boston,” said Perla
Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits.
The Top-Rated Environmental Non Profits in Boston, Massachusetts are:
Ceres: “They are tackling critical sustainability issues such as climate change, clean energy, water and
natural resource scarcity and others in a wholly unique way: by changing the way corporations and
markets go about their business.” 2012 Review
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Inc.: “In the midst of the hurly-burly of the Boston
Waterfront, a beautiful, serene, flowering 15 acre space creates an environment for family activities that
we think are unparalleled anywhere.” 2012 Review
All nonprofit donors, sponsors, clients and volunteers are welcome to review their favorite nonprofits
at www.greatnonprofits.org. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for our 2013 Top-Rated
Award. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 for your favorite nonprofit to be considered for a Top-
Rated Award .
Cities with the most Top-Rated nonprofits include Tucson, Arizona; Palo Alto, California; Denver
Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Arlington Virginia and Seattle Washington.
GreatNonprofits today announced that Washington DC has the
most Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits of any city in the United States, with 5 Top-Rated nonprofits.
These nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on
the greatnonprofits.org website.
“In celebration of Earth Day 2013 GreatNonprofits is focused on increasing the awareness of leading
environmental nonprofits and the cities that host them. These nonprofits achieved Top-Rated status
because their clients, donors and volunteers chose to review them and bestow a high rating. There are
over 58,000 environmental nonprofits on our site and five of the top rated are based in United States,”
said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits.
The Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits in Washington DC are:
Amazon Conservation Association: ACA does an exceptional job of designing and implementing
programming that maximizes gains in both biodiversity conservation and livelihoods development and
support. (Review)
American Forest Foundation: The American Forest Foundation is one of the oldest conservation
organizations in the US, and has been responsible for creating a huge (the largest) network of private
forest landowners in our country. (Review)
Civil War Trust: For more than a decade my wife and I have vigorously supported the Trust with more
than 50 donations…quite simply we ‘trust the Trust’ to stay on mission(“we buy dirt”), to support
preservation of hallowed ground, to educate those who walk these grounds and participate in their
educational offerings, to obtain matching funds and to minimize their ‘overhead expenses’. (Review)
National Parks Conservation Association: Every National Park has its own unique beauty and history,
National Parks Conservation Association is there to make sure everyone now and in future generations
gets a chance to visit these national wonders. (Review)
Environmental and Energy Study Institute: The Environmental and Energy Study Institute is a great
organization that works tirelessly to inform the public, policymakers, and stakeholders on environmental
and energy issues that affect not only the United States, but the entire World. (Review)
All nonprofit donors, sponsors, clients and volunteers are welcome to review their favorite nonprofits
at www.greatnonprofits.org. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for our 2013 Top-Rated
Award. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 for your favorite nonprofit to be considered for a Top-
Rated Award .
Cities with the most Top-Rated nonprofits include Tucson, Arizona; Palo Alto, California; Denver
Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Arlington Virginia and Seattle Washington.
GreatNonprofits today announced that Palo Alto, California has the most Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits in the state, with 4 Top-Rated nonprofits. These nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012 on the
greatnonprofits.org website.
“In celebration of Earth Day 2013 GreatNonprofits is focused on increasing the awareness of leading
environmental nonprofits and the cities that host them. These nonprofits achieved Top-Rated status
because their clients, donors and volunteers chose to review them and bestow a high rating. There
are over 58,000 environmental nonprofits on our site and four of the top rated are based in Palo Alto,
California,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits.
The Top-Rated Environmental Non Profits in Palo Alto, California are:
Camp Unalayee Association: “Camp Unalayee is a wonderful camp that introduces kids to the
Wilderness. They bring kids to the mountains who have never walked anywhere there was not a
sidewalk before. The provide generous financial assistance, so any child that wants to go can.” 2012
Review
ACTERRA: Action for a Healthy Planet: “I originally joined Acterra because it was an environmental
organization with a very local focus and I could see the results of my volunteer efforts in my community.
Acterra approaches its work with scientific integrity and a healthy dose of fun – my volunteer time
always feels worthwhile.” 2012 Review
Sunwork Renewable Energy Projects: “Sunwork has contributed greatly to clean energy generation,
training the green workforce, and spreading the word about improving energy efficiency as a
prerequisite to installing solar PV. Staff and management are committed, educated, skilled, and
passionate about the environment!” 2012 Review
Environmental Volunteers, Inc: “The EV organization is what every nonprofit should strive to be –
effective, well-run, of highest integrity and a beloved pillar in the communities it serves. I’m always
delighted to tell people about the EV’s and their tireless, critically important work in teaching kids about
science, the environment and conservation — something they simply do not get otherwise in school.”
2012 Review
All nonprofit donors, sponsors, clients and volunteers are welcome to review their favorite nonprofits
at www.greatnonprofits.org. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for our 2013 Top-Rated
Award. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 for your favorite nonprofit to be considered for a Top-
Rated Award .
Cities with the most Top-Rated nonprofits include Tucson, Arizona; Palo Alto, California; Denver
Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Arlington Virginia and Seattle Washington.
GreatNonprofits today announced that Tucson, Arizona has the most Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits in the state, with 4 top rated nonprofits. These nonprofits qualified for the status of Top-Rated based on user reviews submitted during 2012.
“In celebration of Earth Day 2013 GreatNonProfits is focused on increasing the awareness of leading environmental nonprofits and the cities that host them. These nonprofits achieved Top-Rated status because their clients, donors and volunteers chose to review them and bestow a high rating. There are over 58,000 environmental nonprofits on our site and four of the top-Rated are based in Tucson
Arizona,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonProfits.
The Top-Rated Environmental Nonprofits in Tucson, Arizona are:
Northern Jaguar Project: The mission of the Northern Jaguar Project (NJP) is to preserve and recover the world’s northernmost population of the jaguar, its unique natural habitats, and native wildlife under its protection as a flagship, keystone, and umbrella species.
Friends of Saguaro National Park: the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service at Saguaro, with the mission to help preserve, protect and enhance the fragile environment and unique cultural heritage of the Sonoran Desert at Saguaro National Park by promoting citizen and corporate stewardship through philanthropy, volunteerism, advocacy and public education.
Center for Biological Diversity: Works to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. They do so through science, law, and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species need to survive.
Watershed Management Group: To improve rural and urban livelihoods by integrating community development and conservation. We provide local residents and community groups with the knowledge and skills necessary to sustainably manage their natural resources.
All nonprofit donors, sponsors, clients and volunteers are welcome to review their favorite nonprofits at www.greatnonprofits.org. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for our 2013 Top-Rated Awards. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 for your favorite nonprofit to be considered for a Top-Rated Award .
Cities with the most Top-Rated nonprofits include Tucson, Arizona; Palo Alto, California; Denver, Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Arlington Virginia and Seattle Washington.
Your online reputation means a lot. Studies show that online reviews play into whether or not a donor decides to give. And who among us hasn’t checked out a restaurant review before deciding to make a reservation? All the more reason to ask your constituents to review you. Who better to tell your story than your volunteers, clients and donors?
Get rewarded for your great reviews.
Now is the time to enter the 2013 Top-Rated Awards. Let new donors find your great reviews on GreatNonprofits! Any nonprofit in the country can enter the Top-Rated Awards, but fewer than 1% become eligible for the honor. Will you be one of the elite?
Our winners get the opportunity at great prizes this year, we’ll be giving away trips to mingle with leaders in philanthropy and technology at our annual Technology for Social Good event in Silicon Valley and online promotion worth $20,000. All winners also get a 2013 Top-Rated Badge to add to your website, marketing materials, annual reports and grant proposals to demonstrate your credibility to donors and funders. Your badge will also automatically show on your profile page on GreatNonprofits. Winners will earn a spot on our 2013 Top-Rated List. The list will be distributed to media and corporate foundations nation-wide. (Repeat winner? You could get a spot on our Hall of Fame too!)
Get the funding and attention you deserve and the tools to promote your achievement!
How to Participate:
It’s simple, fast and free. Invite people who have seen your work – your volunteers, clients and board members – to write a review about you! A nonprofit needs 10 or more positive (4 or 5 star) reviews to be placed on the Top-Rated List.
Need a little help asking for reviews? No problem! Check out our ideas on inviting reviews.
Reviews will be counted from April 1 – October 31, 2013, with winners announced monthly.
It’s Earth Month, and we have some great ways to get kids involved! Earth Month is the perfect time to get kids into appreciating the natural world and taking care of their planet. Here are some ways to celebrate!
1. Take a hike, and clean up!
Get outside and get moving–hikes are an easy way to show kids the wonders of their own backyard and with spring here, you might get to take in blooming flowers and wildlife. Many local nonprofits hold programs in parks and natural areas. Local nonprofits are also responsible for stepping up and helping out state parks during budget cuts. Find a local environmental nonprofit near you.
If you live near a beach, river or lake, chances are, a local nonprofit needs your help for its next cleanup! Many organizations ramp up their cleanup efforts for April. Don’t live near water? You can still pitch in to clean up in your own backyard at your local park, school or playground!
2. Visit an Animal Rehab Center
Get access to some amazing wildlife while learning about how humans affect wild animals and their habitats near you. Visit a raptor center, like Cascades and witness eagles and owls up close. Live near the water? Find a marine mammal center, like the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, to see how trash can entangle sea creatures, and how to help.
3. Go to a Car Wash
What kid doesn’t love being inside the car as it goes through a car wash? Why is it good for the environment? Car washes recycle their water, so much less water is used than when you run your hose at home to wash. And while your working on the car, check your tires, under-inflated tires can negatively affect your MPG, making your car less fuel efficient.
4. Start a Garden or Visit a Farm
Gardening is a fun, hands-on way to teach kids about the Earth and about healthy food. Grow your own veggies, or create a garden full of flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies! If your kids are into critters, start a compost bin and be sure to add lots of worms! Many nonprofits hold programs to educate urban farmers, like the Seattle Tilth Association. You could visit your local community garden for more inspiration. Many working farms give tours geared toward kids that show the effort and care that goes into growing healthy, local and fresh food while kids can engage with the farmers and animals.
5. Feed the Birds
Make your yard or balcony a haven for hungry wild birds. Set up a bird feeder and keep track of your visitors. There are many local Audubon Societies that give local birding walks as well and can help you identify the birds at your feeder. Take a walk around your neighborhood one morning and try to see how many birds you can identify. Believe it or not, the local dump is actually a favored birding spot as well. Some dumps and recycling centers offer tours. (Also a great place for kids to see how waste adds up.)
6. Recycle Your Clothes and Toys
Now is a great time to do some spring cleaning. If you end up with a mountain of clothes that no longer fit your kids, or toys that they have outgrown, consider donating them to those in need. It’s easy to have kids help out. Gather all of your donations in a recycling bin and head to your local Goodwill together. Many local groups also accept clothing and toy donations for those in need.
7. Ride a Bike
Instead of driving to run errands, try riding bikes together to local shops. You’ll save gas, get exercise and help the environment. Many bicycle nonprofits advocate for bikers’ rights and/or offer safety courses for riders, like The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
8. Read a Book–or Write One!
Take a trip to your local library and check out some books about your local flora and fauna. (After all, the library puts ‘reduce reuse recycle’ into action every day!) Have a writing session with your kids and create some art about the Earth. Nonprofits like River of Words in Berkeley, CA work to foster both literacy and environmental stewardship through poetry.
9. Go to a Farmers’ Market
Get some tasty local fruits and veggies at your farmers’ market. Most markets will let kids sample lots of different foods. Talk with the farmers and ask about how they grow their produce. Bring your reusable bags and ask for recipes too! Then have the kids help out with preparing a meal with the fruits and veggies you buy.
10. Make a Reusable Bag
Don’t have bags for the market? Use an old t-shirt and make a reusable bag! Kids can have fun decorating it.
Know of a great environmental nonprofit doing work near you? Write a review and let other folks know about it!
We were shocked and saddened to hear about the recent scandal involving Allied Veterans of the World and Florida’s lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll. It is reported that the veterans charity operated as a front for an online gambling business, with only about two percent of earnings going to veterans. Much of the earnings went to political campaigns, lobbying and expensive cars. The business operated within a loophole of Florida law, enabling the operation of online “sweepstakes cafes” as long as the proceeds are donated to charity. Arrests have now been made for money laundering and racketeering.
As reprehensible as this scandal is, the good news is that you can take a stand. Have you donated or volunteered for a nonprofit helping vets that you feel is worthy of praise? Have you seen the difference a nonprofit has made in someone’s life? Do you know of an organization helping veterans and their families? Now is the time to write a review and let everyone know about it. Former donors of Allied Veterans of the World will be looking for a new place to donate, and you can help guide them to nonprofits doing the most good for our veterans.
Write a review on our site, or browse through some of the veterans organizations that have been reviewed near you. You can look through Top-Rated veterans organizations also.
You can help donors make the right choice. Your story has the power to inform others to donate to the organizations truly helping veterans.
When was the last time you checked in on a neighbor? Been awhile? According to a new survey published in Atlantic Monthly, you aren’t alone.
The survey showed that, regardless of income level, the one community resource that most people felt they lacked was “kind, supportive neighbors.”
And community and environment can actually play a role in overall health and happiness.
How connected are you to your local community? Can you name a local nonprofit helping your community? See what happened when we asked some locals to name a nonprofit near them.
Find an organization in your community using our thousands of city pages. Start here with our zip code search. If you’ve spent time at a local nonprofit, share your story here by writing a review.
Feel like you don’t have the time to volunteer? A study published in Psychological Science revealed that doing something nice for others can actually give you a sense of having more time to spend.
When folks take the time to help someone else, they know it’s time well-spent. The study showed that when people feel like they’ve done something worthwhile with their time, however busy they may be, they also feel like they have more time.
Spending time on others actually gave subjects in the study more feelings of “time affluence” than actually having more free time. The study also compared feelings of time affluence after subjects simply wasted time or spent time on themselves. Doing for others won out.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your schedule, one of the most effective ways to feel like you have more time is to spend it helping others. Why not find a new place to volunteer near you?
Find a nonprofit that needs help near you. (We make it easy with our zip code search.)
Giving your time may just help you as much as your community.
Can you think of a local nonprofit in your city? Can you guess how many nonprofits are near you? We decided to do an experiment: we walked around our San Francisco Bay Area offices to find a few long-time locals. Could they name a single Bay Area nonprofit? Did they have an idea of how many nonprofits were in the area?
The results? Check them out below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NxEE1uhUXY
So, can you name a local nonprofit in your town? Use GreatNonprofits to find a local nonprofit!
If you’ve volunteered or donated to a nonprofit near you, have you written a review about that nonprofit to help others learn about it?
GreatNonprofits was recently highlighted in a Stanford Social Innovation Review article about why beneficiary voice is so important to the nonprofit sector. Written by Fay Twersky of the Hewlett Foundation and Phil Buchanan and Valerie Threlfall of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, the article discusses why the views and experiences of the people who benefit from social programs are often overlooked and underappreciated. These views are an invaluable source of insight into a program’s effectiveness.
In bypassing the beneficiary as a source of information and experience, we deprive ourselves of insights into how we might do better—insights that are uniquely grounded in the day-to-day experiences of the very people the programs are created for. In order to get these insights, GreatNonprofits provides a platform for clients served to tell their stories, both the the public and the organization that is providing services.
Read the full article here.
GreatNonprofits’ CEO Perla Ni, recently authored a post for Markets for Good about community feedback. Ni gave an overview of beneficiary feedback from the community perspective, noting that feedback tools for grantmakers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations must demonstrate on-the-ground results and lead to improvements in programming and in quality of life for beneficiaries.
So, where are we today with community feedback? And how is the data being used?
As many government agencies and nonprofits face budget cuts, there is increasing pressure for grantmakers and grantees to justify the funding of these entities with results. From all sides of the funding equation, across the board, there is a priority being placed on evaluation. Aggregating community feedback—from clients served, legislators, volunteers, partner organizations, or donors—is a sensible and cost-effective way to show program impact and pave the way for improvements.
Read more…
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