GuideStar Seals of Transparency

An easy way for nonprofit organizations to demonstrate their commitment to transparency while telling their real stories.

GuideStar Seals of Transparency indicate that a nonprofit has provided key information to its GuideStar profile. This recognition shows commitment to transparency. By providing up-to-date information, nonprofits allow potential donors and funders to make educated decisions.

About the Seals

Nonprofits—get rewarded for your transparency

When you earn a Seal of Transparency, you provide context for the IRS information already in your organization's GuideStar profile, give potential donors and funders better insight into your work, and stand out from the other nonprofits in our database. All by claiming your organization's profile and completing the required fields. The amount of information you provide determines which of our four Seals you earn. The best part? It's completely free!

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Bronze Seal

Make sure donors find you

~5-minute update
  • Organization mission and contact details
  • Donation information
  • Leadership information
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Silver Seal

Guide funding decisions

~10 minute update
  • Program(s) information
  • Brand details (website, social media, logo)
  • Plus Bronze info
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Gold Seal

Gain trust and support

~15-minute update
  • Audited financial report or basic financial information
  • Board Chair name and leadership demographics
  • Plus Silver info
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Platinum Seal

Highlight your impact and boost funding

~15 minute update
  • Strategic plan or strategy and goal highlights
  • At least one metric demonstrating your progress and results
  • Plus Gold info

Download a PDF of full Seal level requirements.

By claiming and updating your organization’s GuideStar Nonprofit Profile you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.

Update your GuideStar profile today to earn a Seal of Transparency!

Update now

Resources

Looking for resources to help earn a Seal of Transparency?

FAQs

Curious to learn more? Here are some FAQs

  • Is a Seal of Transparency a rating or endorsement by GuideStar?

    No, it's not. GuideStar is not a watchdog and we do not evaluate nonprofits. Our goal is to provide unbiased information to help donors and key stakeholders make educated decisions about nonprofits and the work they do. A Seal of Transparency indicates that a nonprofit has updated its Nonprofit Profile by providing specific information. The Seal level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) is determined by how much information the organization has shared. Again, it is not a rating or endorsement by GuideStar.

  • What does a nonprofit have to do to earn each Seal?

    The Seals of Transparency are meant to build on each other. A nonprofit earns the Bronze Seal by providing basic information―mission, leadership team and board names, basic program information, etc. Once an organization has earned a Bronze Seal, it can share financial information to earn Silver; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and vision to earn Gold; and, finally, metrics to show the progress made toward its mission to earn our highest seal, Platinum. See all required fields for each Seal of Transparency.

There are more than 10,000 platinum organizations. Here are some of them: