Answer each question individually
1. A description of what the organization does, when it was founded, where it is headquartered, and what it sees as its mission
2. Does it have competitors? If so, what would be major ones?
3. Links to
a. The latest Form 990
b. Its audited financial statements, if those are available
c. If it is rated by Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, links to those ratings
d. One or two recent news articles about its activities (can be video)
e. Its website
f. Anything fun you want to add, like videos of its accomplishments
4. A financial summary as of the last year it filed a Form 990, including:
a. Total assets, liabilities, and net assets. For net assets, how much is restricted?
b. Major sources of revenues, in dollars and percentages
c. Major expenses, by function (program, fundraising, management and general)
d. Major expenses, by natural category (grants? Salaries? Occupancy?)
5. Some basic ratios
a. Program expenses/total expenses
b. Contribution revenue/total revenue
c. Fundraising expenses/total expenses
d. Net assets/total expenses
e. Current assets/Current liabilities
f. Total liabilities/net assets
6. Some opinions
a. Does the organization seem in danger of bankruptcy?
b. Do you think they are a “good” nonprofit organization, that you would feel comfortable donating to, assuming you liked their mission? Explain why, or why not –this might involve spending ratios, or non-financial factors such as its management or the quality of its work. It might also involve the existence of competitors you like more.
