20 Questions Donors Can Ask Nonprofit Organizations & NPOs Should Ask Themselves (Credit given to Dan Pallotta. A major source of this list is from his book “Uncharitable” and amended with my own additions.)
1. How effective are the charity’s programs and how is efficacy measured?
2. What are the qualifications of the organization’s staff?
3. Are the charity’s staff compensated fairly for the value they deliver?
4. How do the organization’s clients/benefactors rate its efforts?
5. What is the scale of achievement compared to similar organizations?
6. Is the organization collaborating with other organizations addressing similar or related causes?
7. Is there an incremental effect of a donation in the present moment?
8. How new is the charity? (This will explain where they are at in their maturity of fundraising and impact.)
9. How well known is the cause to the public?
10. Does the charity face greater difficulty than its nonprofit peers in raising money?
11. How have economic conditions affected the charity?
12. If program expenses and operational budget comparisons are made between charities, are they accounted for in an identical manner?
13. Are intangible benefits being accounted for by this organization? Are they used to generate scale?
14. Is the future value of the charity being accounted for?
15. Is the current value of the outcome being accounted for?
16. Is the organization attempting any bold advertising or fundraising initiatives that might affect the dollars going to programs?
17. What is the organization’s long-term vision and what is it doing to achieve it?
18. How is long-term investment affecting the short-term financial picture?
19. Does the organization have adequate infrastructure?
20. How can I help this organization have a greater impact?
