The Better Business Bureau evaluates and accredits charities and businesses using these “trust standards.” It also investigates consumer complaints. You can find a list of BBB accredited charities. Check out a BBB report on a specific business or charity. For consumer stories this list of tips can be helpful. The nearest BBB office is in Amherst, near Buffalo.
The Community Foundation manages and receives charitable donations and redistributes them as grants to charities in Central New York. It’s been around for more than 85 years and annually disburses more than $6.5 million. See the calendar for story leads and this news section and press room page.
This private foundation manages money left by Rosamond Gifford who died in the 1950s asking that her $5 million be used for charitable purposes. The foundation gives grants to area organizations and charities, supports the arts and invests in neighborhood projects. See past and current initiatives.
Guidestar helps consumers understand how nonprofits operate and the work they are doing. The website provides the non-profit’s annual IRS 990 forms. By viewing the 990 you get a sense of the non-profit’s mission, staff, basic finances, top paid employees and much more. [If the form here is not current, you can ask the non-profit for its latest 990 as it is required to provide it] You need to register before the information you find here is well worth it. The site also includes articles about the non-profit world, blogs and a donor bill of rights.
This federal agencies collects taxes and registers non-profits. You can find out whether an organization is tax-exempt and get some basic information about it on this page. The site has general information for tax stories and local contacts. See the latest media releases in the newsroom section and the FAQ.
This state agency oversees charities to make sure the givers and receivers aren’t being duped. Check up on charitable organizations in the registry by seeing where donations are being spent. See sections on law, FAQ and publications, as well as links to other helpful websites
Most people know this as the charity with the bell-ringers at Christmas, but don’t realize it is also a Christian church with weekly services. This page links to all its social justice programs, ranging from day care to juvenile justice and here are volunteer opportunities. See also this contacts page.
This non-profit, part of a national network, raises and distributes money for many local charities. Key areas it funds are education, vocational help, health/well-being and a safety-net. More than 600 companies run an annual United Way campaign and allow employees to contribute to United Way through payroll deductions. More than 40,000 people in CNY contribute annually. Testimonies of who is helped are here. On this site you’ll find the history, mission and work of the local affiliate. Check upcoming events.