GuideStar
A free Candid, Inc. nonprofit profile tool to share your mission, demonstrate transparency, and connect with funders
What is Guidestar?
GuideStar—a public charity and part of Candid, Inc.—is a comprehensive database of nearly 2 million IRS-registered nonprofits in the U.S. It is widely used by funders, foundations, and community organizations for nonprofit research.
Most 501c3 organizations already have a basic GuideStar profile generated from IRS records. Your organization may already have a profile in the database that you can claim and update for free at guidestar.org. We encourage you to check it out and keep your organization’s information current.
How does the VCF use GuideStar?
GuideStar is one of the tools we use to learn more about your organization. It helps us confirm your current IRS status as a 501c3, and when available, review available details such as your mission, leadership, program focus, and populations you serve. This helps us understand how your work aligns with VCF and fund advisor priorities. The more current your profile, the more accurately we—and other funders across the country—can understand and support your work. This is where you come in!
Keeping your GuideStar profile updated is a simple but useful tool for advancing your organization’s development goals.
Note: While municipalities and religious institutions are not typically in the GuideStar system, they are eligible for VCF grants.
How can I update my organization’s information on GuideStar?
Visit guidestar.org and search for your organization’s profile. If it’s the first time using the site, you will need to create a free account. Tip: Use your organization’s email address for quickest results. If you don’t have one, you can still move forward by uploading your organization’s EIN or IRS determination letter.
Once your email address is verified, you’ll be able to claim and update your profile. Here are 2 guides from the GuideStar website that might be helpful:
Want to go a little deeper? Earn a free GuideStar Seal of Transparency.
GuideStar’s Seal of Transparency is a free way to take it one step further. Earning the seal helps funders better understand your work and connect with you. And once earned, can be displayed on your nonprofit’s website, printed materials, and anywhere you share your organization’s information.
Here’s what GuideStar requires you to add for each seal level:
- Bronze: Mission, contact information, donation details, and leadership listings
- Silver: Program information, branding, and grantmaker status (if applicable)
- Gold: Financial details (audited reports or basic information), board chair name, and leadership demographics
- Platinum: Strategic plans goals, plus at least one metric demonstrating progress and results