FAQ

• How reliable is Good to Grant?
• What are the data sources Good to Grant uses?
• How is something determined to be Good to Grant?
• How can this be free when Guidestar charges $750 per year for this same data?
• Isn't free less reliable than paid?
• What's so great about the Watchlist?
• Is the Good to Grant PDF good enough for Due Diligence?
• Do you check OFAC?

Q: How reliable is Good to Grant?

A: The data that Good to Grant uses is the same data that's being used by every other similar provider. We all get our data from the exact same government sources at exactly the same time. If you see errors in the data then please contact the IRS or NCES and ask them to fix it. Once that happens, all providers will get the corrected data.

Q: What are the data sources Good to Grant uses?

A: This data we use is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78, the Business Master File (BMF) and the IRS Weekly Bulletins. Schools and School Districts information comes from NCES. It is difficult to use in the format that the government provides, so we make it more accessible.

Q: How is something determined to be Good to Grant?

A: The preliminary assessment on whether an organization is Good to Grant is based upon the criteria published by the Council on Foundations. For a final determination though, you should complete your due diligence process as instructed by an attorney.

Q: How can this be free when other service providers charge quite a bit for this same data?

A: Good to Grant is free because the data is free from the IRS and NCES. Free data should be free to use. We hope that instead of spending your money on data for due diligence, that you could put it to good use in the community.

Q: Isn't free less reliable than paid?

A: The data is free from the government sources and we're passing it through to you. Paying for something that is already free doesn't make it more reliable, it makes it more expensive.

Q: What's so great about the Watchlist?

A: The Watchlist notifies you of changes to a grantee's status. This is especially important for donor advised funds that may be paying weekly or monthly. If you only check once a year and the status changes in the middle of the year, you could have a tax liability or expenditure responsibility from the date of the change.

Q: Is the Good to Grant PDF good enough for Due Diligence?

A: There are several things that are needed for due diligence and you should consult with an attorney, but the Good to Grant PDF can serve as proof that you verified the grantee's public charity status with the IRS on the date marked. Per IRS Revenue Procedure 2009-32, grantors may rely on third party services to obtain information contained in the IRS Business Master File (BMF) as it relates to a grantee's public charity classification under § 509(a)(1), (2), or (3).

Q: Do you check OFAC?

A: Currently, we do not check OFAC. In order to check for board members or key staff on the OFAC list, we would need you to provide that information to us. If this is a feature that you want us to add, please let us know.