GuideStar is one of several sites that connect people with nonprofit organizations. In the somewhat stilted language of the site:
In 1994, GuideStar began as a new venture with a bold vision: to revolutionize philanthropy and nonprofit practice with information. We became a 501(c)(3) public charity in 1996.
In our journey to create a more transparent and accountable nonprofit community, we are reshaping the infrastructure of the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits embrace this practice of transparency and accountability when they share information about their mission, programs, and finances with the public. Accurate information is a powerful tool, and our users have responded with better-informed, more effective giving decisions.