InkLess World

The Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau says if charities are efficient, they’ll give at least 65 cents out of every dollar they receive to helping others.

But nonprofit organizations and study groups warn that using ratios and too much analysis of finances can be misleading and destructive.

Many people in the nonprofit sector say transparency is a good thing. Web sites like Guidestar.org and Charitynavi gator.org have popped up over the past decade, making nonprofits’ tax information an open book.

Nonprofits are required to release Internal Revenue Service 990 tax forms if people ask for them, but the Web sites make it easier to access the information.

Both take information gathered by the IRS and make it public.

The mission is transparency, according to company spokes-persons.

Guidestar’s mission statement, according to its Web site, is to revolutionize philanthropy and nonprofit practice by providing information that enables users to make better decisions and encourages charitable giving.

Sharon Kirk, a spokeswoman for Guidestar, said donors have taken interest in the site because they want to be sure their money is going to legitimate charities.

Charity Navigator uses the financial information of nonprofits to evaluate charities.
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source: http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/12/07/news/local_news/newsstory3.txt