Do I have to register for the service to have donors referred to my cause?
What kind of "market research" will we be receiving if we become charter subscribers?
How does SmartGiving rate nonprofits?
What if I can't complete the entire questionnaire because of lack of information?
We're a Chapter of a national organization. Should we register or will we be covered by our headquarters' registration?
Do you receive a commission for referring donors to us?
We're a small, local nonprofit. Does it make sense for us to register?

What is the "Donor Bill of Rights?"

Do I have to register for the service to have donors referred to my cause?
No, however, it will be much easier for us to "find" you if you're part of the service. When a donor establishes his or her giving interest, we go out and search for nonprofits that are good matches. It makes it much more likely that you won't be overlooked if you're in our database.

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What kind of "market research" will we be receiving if we become charter subscribers?
Most nonprofits have reporting that shows the quantitative results of their fundraising programs - such as retention rates and average donation amounts -- metrics that reflect donor behavior . What doesn't get measured are the qualitative factors that influence a donor's decision-making - such factors as the scope and quality of volunteer opportunities, adoption of ethical best practices and the state of the organization's governance. We'll be publishing research that reflects these qualitative preferences.

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How does SmartGiving rate nonprofits?
We don't! That's one of the unique features of SmartGiving. We don't rate charities. Instead, we match donors to charities. Our philosophy is that an organization or project might be ideally suited to one donor, but might not be the best choice for another donor - just as a good stock or mutual fund might be appropriate for one investor but not for another, given varying goals and investment philosophies.

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What if I can't complete the entire questionnaire because of lack of information?
No problem. Just contact us and we'll try to help you provide or develop the information or, if that isn't possible, at least we'll understand the basis for the omission. That's part of what makes the SmartGiving process so unique. There is no such thing as a "pass/fail" result. Although absence of some information may result in a lower match rate for some donors, unless a donor tells us that the information is absolutely essential to their decision-making, we may still recommend a nonprofit missing certain data, especially when we can explain why that information is not available.

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We're a Chapter of a national organization. Should we register or will we be covered by our headquarters' registration?
Our system is designed for either, depending on your preference. A simple check box will enable field organizations of a national nonprofit to utilize information already provided by their parent organization. Or, you can customize that information for your own listing. Many field entities offer unique, local services that might be of interest to some donors. Similarly, some field organizations issue their own Form 990 rather than consolidating with the headquarters, which may also give a different view to a donor. It's entirely up to you how you handle provision of your information.

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Do you receive a commission for referring donors to us?
Never! Donors pay us an hourly rate for the time we spend working with them. Nothing is paid to us by the nonprofit nor do our fees vary based on the amount of the gift.

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We're a small, local nonprofit. Does it make sense for us to register?
Absolutely! Many donors are interested in small, local charities because they want to give back to their own communities and because they sometimes feel that with a smaller organization their gifts can have a bigger impact! So, by all means, join us.

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What is the "Donor Bill of Rights?"
The Donor Bill of Rights was originally developed by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals and has since been adopted by many of the professional associations for fund raisers. The Bill of Rights outlines ethical practices for fund raisers. More information can be found at www.afpnet.org

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