When is the last time you updated your Guidestar entry?

by Heather Mansfield · 2009-01-15 06:34:00 UTC
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Web 2.0 fundraising is built upon and empowered by the Guidestar database. Change.org, Network for Good, and Facebook Causes (just to name a few!) are all pulling your organization's information directly from Guidestar. If you have old information inside of Guidestar, then you have old information on Change.org, Network for Good, Facebook, etc. This includes your organization's mailing address... donations made to your organization through Web 2.0 websites are mailed to the address listed in Guidestar!

I worked at nonprofits from 1997-2006 and updating Guidestar was one of those "To Do's" that was always last on my list. In the era of Web 2.0 fundraising, that just can not be the case. Nonprofits need to understand the importance of keeping your Guidestar entry current.

If you have not updated your entry in Guidestar recently, please visit Guidestar's Nonprofit Resources.

It's also important to understand that nonprofits that are not in Guidestar can not fundraise online using Web 2.0 websites, and thus will be very limited in their choice for online fundraising the Web 1.0 way i.e, "Donate Now" buttons. You will be mostly limited to using services that use PayPal, and many online donors just refuse to donate via PayPal.

If you are not sure whether your nonprofit is in Guidestar, please visit Guidestar.org and in the "Search" box enter your EIN number with the dash [XX-XXXXXXX]. If nothing comes up, then your organization is not in Guidestar (the same is true if you are a fiscally-sponsored project).

To get in Guidestar's database, just fax your determination letter from the IRS to Guidestar at 757-229-8912 with a cover letter that reads "To: Customer Service" and "Re: Please add us to your database." Guidestar's direct number is 800-784-9378 in case you need to call them. The process takes 24-48 hours.

Good luck! The good news is you only have to update Guidestar once a year... and January is the perfect time to do so.

Heather Mansfield
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