Benevity's vetting criteria for nonprofits

• 501(c)(3) Public Charities
• 501(c)(3) Private Operating Foundations

• Appearance in the IRS Business Master File of Exempt Organizations as in good standing, or,
• A copy of an IRS letter of determination dated within the past four months

• 501(c)(3) Private Non-Operating Foundations

• Appearance in the IRS Business Master File of Exempt Organizations as in good standing, or,
• A copy of an IRS letter of determination dated within the past four months

• Public Schools
• Public School Districts

• Appearance in the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, and,
• A copy of the school or district’s W-9 with their associated EIN

• Governmental Organizations

  (e.g., municipalities and state governments and their subordinate departments)

• A copy of the governmental organization/body’s W-9 with their associated EIN
• The organization must confirm how funds are allocated to them. Either directly or channeled through a municipality or state government. 

• Religious Organizations

• An IRS-issued document with both your church's name and EIN on it. The document can be an EIN assignment letter, a tax-exempt letter of determination, an annual return form, or any other IRS document with both the church name and EIN
• Confirmation of the regular religious services provided by the organization, and,
• Confirmation of a commercial, brick-and-mortar presence.

• CRA Registered Charities

• Appearance as “Registered” in the CRA Charities List, or,
• A copy of the organization’s Charities Directorate letter conferring its charitable status, dated within the past four months

• CRA Designated Qualified Donees

  (e.g., Canadian municipalities)

• Appearance as “Registered” in one of the CRA’s Qualified Donee Listings

• First Nations Communities

• Appearance as “Registered” in the CRA’s “Municipal or public bodies performing a function of government in Canada” Qualified Donee Listings, or,
• Appearance in the First Nations Directory maintained by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

• Federal Nonprofit Organizations

• Appearance as “Active” in the Corporations Canada database with governing legislation as the “Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act,” or,
• A copy of the organization’s Corporations Canada registration letter under the “Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act” dated within the past four months

• Provincial Nonprofit Organizations

• Appearance in the relevant provincial/territorial database as in good standing as a nonprofit, or,
• A copy of the organization’s certificate of non-profit status with the province/territory as a nonprofit

• Royal Canadian Legion Branches

• Appearance in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch Locator

• Registered Charities

• Appearance as “Registered” in the UK Charity Commission/Scottish Charity Regulator/Jersey or Guernsey Charity Registries/Charity Commission for Northern Ireland database, or,
• A copy of the organization’s Charity Commission/charity regulator letter conferring its charitable status, dated within the past four months

• Excepted Charities

• Documentation confirming the organization’s status as the relevant UK Excepted Charity type, and,
• A copy of their HMRC letter with their reference number

• English and Welsh Schools:
• UK academies; Sixth form colleges; Voluntary aided; Converter academy; Voluntary controlled; Academy sponsor; Foundation trust schools

• Appearance in the Government of the UK school database under one of the eligible types at left, and,
• The cause’s agreement with a statutory requirement statement

• Scottish Schools

• Appearance in the Government of Scotland Education database

• UK Higher Education Institutions

• Appearance in the Government of the UK Office for Students database, and,
• The institution’s HMRC letter with their reference number

• Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC)

• Appearance on the HMRC’s Community Amateur Sports Club listings, or,
• A copy of the organization’s HMRC letter confirming their inclusion in the CASC Tax Scheme

• Exempt Charities

• Documentation confirming the organization’s status as the relevant UK Exempt Charity type, and,
• A copy of their HMRC letter with their reference number or their Gift Aid certificate

Other UK Nonprofits

Organizations:

• Community Interest Companies
• Charitable Incorporated Organizations (that do not appear in Charities Commission database)
• Football Association Affiliates
• Companies Limited by Guarantee with a Public Benefit Purpose
• Community Benefit Societies
• Charitable Trusts

• Appearance in the Companies House database as a nonprofit organization type in good standing, or,
• Appearance in the Football Association’s list of affiliated clubs, or,
• A copy of the organization’s constitution/articles of association as filed with the local governing body, which states a public benefit purpose and contains a proper dissolution clause

• Registered Charities (Possessing an RCN)

• Appearance in the Irish Charities Regulator database, or,
• A copy of the organization’s Charities Regulator letter conferring its charitable status, dated within the past four months

• Schools

• Appearance in the Government of Ireland Education database

• Sports Bodies with Tax Exemption

• Appearance in the Irish Revenue Sports Bodies listings, or,
• A copy of the Games and Sports section letter issued by Irish Revenue

• Australian Charities with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 Status

• Appearance in the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission database, and,
• Confirmation of DGR Item 1 Status in the Australian Business Register database

• Australian Charities and Not-for-profits without DGR Item 1 Status

• Appearance in the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission database