Are you searching for new charities to give to but not sure how to begin narrowing down your list of potential gift recipients? With so many worthy causes and charities from which to choose, it’s difficult to know where to begin your search. 

Looking at how Vanguard Charitable donors give can provide valuable insights into how others are choosing nonprofits for their grants. 

Our latest Why Giving Matters report revealed that 46% of nonprofits who received an unexpected grant from a Vanguard Charitable donor (typically a one-time grant in response to emergent needs) received an additional grant from the same donor in the future. Revisiting charities you gave to once could be an excellent choice for your long-term giving. 

Here are some considerations for selecting previous one-time gift recipients and seeing if they could be your next favorite charity.

Even after the emergency, local charities likely still need your support

If you gave after an emergent event to a local charity, there was something about that issue that spoke to you once. A second disaster may not have occurred since your initial gift. Yet, it's likely that the local charity you gave to is still working to address the initial issue or other issues still affecting the same community.  

Whether organizations are focused on long-term recovery from disaster or building up preparedness for future events, they’re likely still doing important work. Nonprofits may also be addressing existing issues that were exacerbated by an emergent event. For example, the psychological recovery process can last long after the media has stopped covering the area impacted by a disaster. 

If you’ve given to that organization before, you must have aligned with their approach to making a difference, and you likely still do!

Support an organization that regularly provides relief

If you typically give in response to disasters, then consider a national organization that regularly responds to emergent issues. 

For example, if you gave to International Rescue Committee in the past, beginning regular granting to them would mean supporting them in all their future humanitarian aid efforts. A nonprofit that responds to emergent events can be a great recipient of ongoing giving, ensuring that you’re always supporting response efforts. 

As Alejandra Villalobos, Associate Vice President, Philanthropy, of CARE shared, “We believe that poverty is unjust and solvable, and that together we have the power to end it. This is only possible because of donors who are willing to make significant, long-term investments in CARE’s work.”

Easily review all your previous grant recipients with a Vanguard Charitable account

Perhaps you’re now considering revisiting nonprofits you’ve previously given to, but how can you even remember what nonprofits you’ve given to in the past? 

When you give with a Vanguard Charitable donor-advised fund (DAF), you can review all nonprofits you’ve recommended grants to. Your granting history is all in one place within your online account. 

And with a Vanguard Charitable DAF, you can quickly set up recurring grants for your favorite charities. Now that you have your newly rediscovered nonprofit, you can establish a regular granting schedule that takes recommending a grant off your to-do list.

Are you ready to give... again? 

Don’t start at square one when you’re looking for a new charity to give to. You’ve likely already found a charity with a mission and values that align to your own. Even if you thought your giving to a nonprofit would be limited to a one-time grant, they could be your next favorite charity for ongoing, recurring giving. 

Consider adding a previous gift recipient to your regular giving list today!