# Charity Navigator Data API

[Charity Navigator](https://www.charitynavigator.org) is the world's largest
independent evaluator of nonprofits, with ratings for more than 245,000 U.S.
501(c)(3) organizations. The Data API gives you programmatic access to that
dataset over GraphQL: search and filter rated organizations, look up records by
EIN, and retrieve Encompass scores, star ratings, publication dates, causes,
locations, and alert levels.

## Getting Access

1. **Register or log in** to this portal.
2. **Browse the Pricing Page** and choose the [plan](/pricing) that fits your use case — see
   [Usage & Quotas](/plans) for quotas and rate limits.
3. **Subscribe** to get access to an API key. Your credit card will not be charged until your 30-day free trial has ended.

## Authentication

Every request must include your API key as a request header. Pass it in the Authorization field of your request headers.

> **Your API key is secret. Never expose it in client-side code or public repositories.**

### Request headers

```json
{
  "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
}
```

Keys sent without the `Bearer` prefix are still accepted, so tokens carried over
from the previous gateway keep working unchanged. New integrations should send
`Bearer` — the bare-token form is a compatibility shim, not the supported format.

## Related Reference Guide

- [How Ratings Work:](/ratings) Explains how Charity Navigator calculates star ratings, beacon scores, and financial/accountability metrics.
- [How Alerts Work:](/alerts) Details how highestLevelAdvisory and CN Alerts are surfaced and when ratings are suppressed.
- [Usage & Quotas:](/plans) Additional information about usage and quotas.
- [Data Sharing Requirement:](/datasharing) Details on the annual usage reporting check-in for partners.
- [Attribution Guidelines:](/attribution) Brand assets, required badges, and usage rules for displaying Charity Navigator ratings.
- [Terms of Use:](/termsofuse) Legal terms governing data API access.