How To Evaluate A Non-Profit Organization
The following watchdog groups have a number of suggestions on how to research non-profit groups in order to make an informed decision about giving and volunteering. Each of these groups also publishes ratings for selected major non-profit agencies in the US They all have their own rating standards, which they publish on their websites.

• American Institute of Philanthropy
• BBB Wise Giving Alliance
• Charity Navigator
• GuideStar (This database is also useful for learning more about non-profit organizations as it contains many non-profit listings throughout the U.S. with address, contact and financial information, including the 990 tax form.)

Guides for Individual Donors
Donors Forum of Chicago has compiled a list of links to publications, both print and online, which discuss the essential elements of informed giving. These include their Giving in Illinois update with the latest figures on the state of giving in Illinois, and Philanthropy in Illinois, which includes information about Illinois foundations, non-profits and giving in Illinois statistics.

Family Foundations includes resources on how to start your own family foundation.

The DuPage Community Foundation is a grantmaking foundation that was created in 1986 to benefit the people of DuPage County. It receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment, and the earnings from this endowment are used to address community needs.