How Alerts Work
Charity Navigator's Alert Issuance Committee issues alerts when publicly available information, such as media reports, legal proceedings, or state registration records, raises concerns about a nonprofit's conduct or status. Alerts are issued in accordance with our alert methodology.
Committee Considerations
In issuing an alert, the Committee considers the following:
- The credibility and timeliness of the information.
- The nature, scope, and seriousness of the allegations or convictions.
- Whether or not the allegations have been proven.
- Other factors on a case-by-case basis.
Levels of Alerts
There are four levels of alerts.
| Level | Label | Issued When |
|---|---|---|
LOW | Review Before Proceeding | Matters of concern relating to the organization have been reported in a media outlet that Charity Navigator deems reliable, but to Charity Navigator's knowledge, no legal proceeding has commenced and the matter is not legal in nature; or issues arise in a nonprofit's state charitable registration (e.g., a nonprofit is delinquent in the State of California). |
MEDIUM | Proceed with Caution | A credible media outlet (as determined by Charity Navigator) has reported that a government agency or a private third party has filed charges or brought a claim as part of a pending legal proceeding, alleging that the organization or its managers have engaged in illegal conduct, including but not limited to financial wrongdoing, discrimination, or violation of data security laws. |
HIGH | Proceed with Increased Caution | A credible media outlet (as determined by Charity Navigator) has reported that the organization is engaged in bankruptcy proceedings; or the organization has been found through a legal proceeding to have engaged, or have managers who have engaged, in illegal conduct, including but not limited to financial wrongdoing, discrimination, or violation of data security laws. |
HIGHEST | Giving Not Recommended | The organization lacks 501(c)(3) status; or a credible media outlet (as determined by Charity Navigator) has reported that the organization has engaged, or has managers who have engaged, in substantial fraud or misrepresentation relating to the organization's charitable purposes or activities, as determined through a legal proceeding. |
Each alert's level is determined by the Committee based on its offense (what happened) and severity (how well substantiated it is: Reported, Alleged, or Confirmed). Severity generally rises with level, but it does not determine level on its own. For example, a LOW alert may carry a Confirmed severity for offenses such as a settlement or a state registration delinquency. Use level as the authoritative indicator of an alert's seriousness.
Charity Navigator relies on publicly accessible information, such as reports from credible media outlets and records or announcements from relevant regulatory bodies. Our team regularly monitors news relating to the nonprofit space for material that falls within our alert methodology. The Committee does not independently verify the accuracy of reported information; it evaluates whether the information is relevant to donors' giving decisions.
Notification and Review Process
Charity Navigator makes a good-faith attempt to notify organizations of its intention to issue an alert prior to publication. Organizations are encouraged to submit additional context or corrective information for the Committee to review, either before or after publication, for potential prevention or removal of an alert.
Charity Navigator values accountability and transparency, and organizations that can demonstrate the falsity of a media report or that they have made good-faith efforts to implement corrective action in response to the cited issue, and have been transparent with their donors around the cited issue and those corrective actions, may have their alert prevented or removed.
In the event that submitted information does not warrant prevention or removal of the alert, organizations are always afforded the opportunity to submit a statement for publication alongside the published alert.
Alert Duration and Final Review Timelines
No alert is meant to exist in perpetuity, and Charity Navigator regularly monitors news related to alert-affected organizations to ensure we provide our users with the most up-to-date information possible. If a significant period elapses without new information related to an active alert, our team will automatically initiate a final review of the alert, which may result in removal if no new substantive information is available. The timelines are as follows:
| Level | Label | Final Review Initiated After |
|---|---|---|
LOW | Review Before Proceeding | 12 months with no new substantive information |
MEDIUM | Proceed with Caution | 18 months with no new substantive information |
HIGH | Proceed with Increased Caution | 24 months with no new substantive information |
HIGHEST | Giving Not Recommended | 36 months with no new substantive information |
The review period is typically measured from the alert's most recent update (updatedAt), not its publication date (publishedDt).
Coverage and Frequency
Alerts cover both rated and unrated nonprofits. The API returns only active alerts. Alerts are updated on a weekly cycle.
To learn more about how alerts are generated, click here.