The Benevity Non-profit MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector that enables AI assistants like Claude to help you discover and donate to non-profits or charitable organisations. With access to Benevity's extensive database of non-profits, you can search for causes that align with your values and learn detailed information about organisations — all through natural conversation.
Intended purpose
This MCP server is designed to facilitate charitable giving by:
- Discovery - Helping you find causes and non-profits that match your interests
- Information - Providing comprehensive details about organisations' missions, programmes, and impact
- Donation - Connecting you with verified links to the non-profit sites, to support causes you care about
The connector empowers informed philanthropy by making it easy to research and support charitable organisations through conversational AI.
How to use the connector
Once connected, you can interact with Benevity through natural conversation with Claude. The connector works behind the scenes to search for and retrieve non-profit information. Learn about finding and connecting tools in Claude.
Basic examples
Search for causes by interest area:
"I want to support environmental causes"
"Find me non-profits working on education"
"Show me animal welfare organisations"
Search with location:
"Find food banks in Seattle"
"Show me local charities in Austin, Texas"
"Environmental organisations working in California"
Get detailed information:
"Tell me more about [Organisation Name]"
"What does [Organisation Name] do?"
"I'd like to learn about their programmes and impact"
Typical conversation flow
Here's an example of how you might use the connector:
You: "I want to help fight climate change through ocean conservation"
Claude: [Uses benevity_nonprofit_search] "I found several organisations focused on ocean conservation and climate. Here are some excellent options:
- Ocean Conservancy - Works to protect marine ecosystems through research and policy advocacy. Global reach with focus on reducing ocean plastic.
- Coral Restoration Foundation - Specialises in coral reef restoration using innovative science-based techniques. Primary work in Florida and Caribbean.
- Oceana - International advocacy organisation dedicated to ocean conservation through science-based policy campaigns.
Would you like to learn more about any of these organisations?"
You: "Tell me more about Ocean Conservancy"
Claude: [Uses benevity_nonprofit_details] "Ocean Conservancy is an international non-profit dedicated to protecting ocean health and marine wildlife.
Mission: They work to preserve ocean biodiversity through scientific research, community engagement, and policy advocacy, focusing on solutions that benefit both marine life and coastal communities.
Key Programmes:
- International Coastal Cleanup initiatives
- Marine wildlife protection and habitat restoration
- Policy advocacy for ocean-friendly legislation
- Science-based conservation strategies
Geographic Focus: Operates globally with projects across all major oceans
Website: [Verified organisation website link]"
Features and tools
The connector provides two main capabilities:
Non-profit Search (benevity_nonprofit_search)
What it does: Searches Benevity's database of charitable causes and non-profit organisations
How to use it: Simply ask Claude to find causes by:
- Keywords (e.g., "education," "health," "environment")
- Location (e.g., "food banks in Denver")
- Cause type (e.g., "animal welfare," "social justice")
- Combinations (e.g., "youth education programmes in Chicago")
Returns: Up to 10 search results including:
- Organisation name
- Brief mission statement
- Location/geographic focus
- Key focus areas
- Unique identifier for detailed lookup
Limitations:
- Maximum 10 results per search
- Search query must be 3-180 characters
- No pagination - refine search terms if results don't match
Non-profit Details (benevity_nonprofit_details)
What it does: Retrieves comprehensive information about specific organisations
How to use it: Ask Claude to provide details about any organisation from search results
Returns: Detailed information including:
- Full mission and vision statement
- Detailed programme descriptions
- Geographic reach and communities served
- Verification status
- Website link (verified tracking/redirect link to organisation's website)
Privacy and security
Data collection
- No personal information required - The connector does not collect or store any personal data about users
- No authentication needed - You don't need an account with Benevity to access the connector.
- Search queries - Search terms are processed to return results but are not stored or associated with individual users
Data usage
- Information returned is sourced from Benevity's non-profit database
- Website links are verified tracking/redirect URLs that safely redirect to organisations' actual websites
- We don't collect Personal Identifying Information (PII), browsing history outside of the current conversation, user preferences or saved searches.
Security
- All connections use HTTPS encryption
- Website links are verified and safe to open
- No sensitive data is transmitted or stored
Troubleshooting
Common issues & solutions
Issue: "No search results found"
Solutions:
- Try broader search terms (e.g., "environment" instead of "marine microplastic research")
- Check the spelling of keywords
- Try different keyword combinations
- Search by location if looking for local organisations
Issue: "Cannot find details for that organisation"
Solutions:
- Make sure you're asking about an organisation from your current search results
- Organisation identifiers are session-specific - you'll need to search again in a new conversation
- Ask Claude to search again and select from the new results
Issue: "Search is taking too long"
Solutions:
- Check your internet connection
- Try a simpler search query
- Restart the browser or Claude Desktop and try again
Issue: "Connector not working"
Solutions:
- Verify the connector is properly configured
- If using Claude Desktop, restart the application and check for updates
- Look for error messages in Claude's MCP status indicator
Issue: "Website link doesn't work"
Solutions:
- The organisation may have changed or removed their website
- Try searching for the organisation directly through a search engine
Still having issues?
If you encounter problems not covered here:
- Check Claude's MCP status - Look for error indicators
- Review configuration - Ensure the connector is properly configured
- Update Claude Desktop - Make sure you're using the latest version
- Contact Support - Reach out to Benevity support at support@benevity.org
Technical Details
MCP information
- Protocol: Model Context Protocol (JSON-RPC)
- Server Type: HTTP-based MCP server
- Response Format: JSON
- Rate Limiting: Standard rate limits apply to prevent abuse
Tool specifications
benevity_nonprofit_search
- Type: Read-only, Idempotent
- Input: Query string (3-180 characters)
- Output: Array of cause objects (max 10)
- Error Codes: INVALID_INPUT, SERVICE_DISABLED
benevity_nonprofit_details
- Type: Read-only, Idempotent
- Input: Array of cause UUIDs
- Output: Array of detailed cause objects
- Error Codes: INVALID_INPUT, CAUSE_NOT_FOUND
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is this connector free to use?
A: Yes, the connector is free for all Claude Pro users.
Q: Do I need a Benevity account?
A: No, you don't need an account to use this connector.
Q: How often is the non-profit database updated?
A: Benevity's non-profit database is reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Q: Can I search for international non-profits?
A: Yes, the database includes non-profits from around the world.
Support and feedback
Technical Support:
Email: support@benevity.org
Subject line: "Non-profit MCP Connector Support"
Feedback & Suggestions:
We welcome feedback about the connector! Please email your suggestions to support@benevity.org
Report Issues:
If you encounter bugs or technical issues, please report them with:
- Description of the issue
- Steps to reproduce
- Error messages (if any)
About Benevity
Benevity is a leading provider of corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software. Our platform helps companies and their employees connect with causes they care about through charitable giving, volunteering, and community investment programmes.
Learn more: www.benevity.com