
Charity Navigator offers a range of free online tools designed to help donors give confidently to nonprofits. These resources make it easier for anyone—regardless of experience—to research charities, manage donations, and find trustworthy organizations that match their interests.
When donating to charity, it’s essential to know where your money is going and whether it will make a difference. Charity Navigator’s donor tools streamline this process, providing easy access to trusted ratings, curated charity lists, and donation options—all in one place. This means you can make well-informed giving decisions, maximize your impact, and avoid scams.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the main tools Charity Navigator offers to donors: the Giving Basket, curated charity lists, and educational donor resources. We’ll explore how each tool works, why it’s valuable, and how you can use these features to support causes you care about.

Charity Navigator’s Essential Tools for Donors
Charity Navigator’s platform is designed with the donor’s needs in mind. For example, the Giving Basket lets you donate to multiple charities in one secure transaction. Imagine you want to support animal welfare, disaster relief, and education. Instead of making separate donations, you simply add your chosen nonprofits to the Giving Basket and complete your gifts at once. You also control how much personal information is shared with each organization, allowing you to maintain privacy as desired.
Curated charity lists are another helpful feature. Let’s say you want to help with hunger relief but aren’t sure where to start. Charity Navigator provides lists like “Highly Rated Food Banks” or “Top Humanitarian Aid Charities,” making it easier to find reputable organizations. Each listing is backed by Charity Navigator’s trusted rating system, so you can be confident in your choices.
Educational donor resources round out the toolkit. These resources include guides on topics such as effective giving strategies, understanding tax benefits of donations, and tips to recognize fraudulent charities. For example, if you’re new to philanthropy, you can learn how to check a charity’s financials or what information to look for before donating.
These tools are essential for anyone who wants to donate wisely. The Giving Basket simplifies giving by centralizing the process and adding privacy controls, making it especially valuable for donors who want to support several causes in a single step. Curated lists save time and build trust by showcasing only top-performing organizations in different categories, which is critical in a crowded nonprofit landscape. The educational resources empower donors to become more knowledgeable, helping to prevent mistakes and boost overall impact.
By leveraging these features, donors are better equipped to avoid scams, ensure their contributions are tax-deductible, and make meaningful choices that align with their personal values. Whether you’re giving $10 or $10,000, these resources help you make every dollar count.
- Giving Basket
Lets you support multiple nonprofits in a single transaction, with full control over the personal information you share. This tool streamlines the donation process and enhances your privacy. - Curated Lists of Top-Rated Charities
Features themed lists—such as disaster relief, animal welfare, or education—so you can easily discover reputable organizations that match your interests. - Educational Donor Resources
Offers step-by-step guides, tips on maximizing tax benefits, and advice for safe giving, helping donors avoid scams and give more effectively.
Start Giving Smarter with Charity Navigator
Take the first step towards more impactful giving by exploring Charity Navigator’s donor tools. Use the Giving Basket to simplify your donations, browse curated charity lists to find trustworthy causes, and read through their educational guides to become a more confident donor. Visit Charity Navigator’s homepage to get started, or go straight to donor resources and guides to learn more.