What We Do

Giving Compass is a one-stop shop to help individual donors learn about issues, get involved, and give to community-led change. In the US, 80% of giving to nonprofits comes from individuals (Giving USA). While the amount we give is important, how we give also matters. We guide donors toward practices that advance equity and address the root causes of society's issues.

We are guided by the principles of impact-driven philanthropy (IDP).

IDP Priorities

Equity

Ensuring resources and power are accessible by everyone so all humans experience dignity and opportunity.

Effectiveness

Drawing on evidence, collecting feedback, and evaluating progress using quantitative and qualitative data.

Systems Change

Addressing institutional, systemic, and structural root causes to eliminate inequities in social outcomes.

Transparency

Centering beneficiaries in the co-creation of solutions, ensuring integrity and accountability in processes and relationships.

Our Mission

To help impact-driven donors transform their generosity into meaningful change for communities and society.

Who We Support

Donors

Access learning content, find opportunities to get involved, and give to trusted organizations.

Nonprofits

Reach donors through our platform by sharing your expertise and insights.

Partners

Provide added value to your donor audience with our content and technology solutions.

Our Story

Giving Compass was inspired by Jeff and Tricia Raikes, co-founders of the Raikes Foundation. Early in their own giving journey, they met other donors who faced a similar challenge: Finding targeted resources to guide a values-aligned, community-inclusive, and effective giving strategy.

Giving Compass Timeline

June 2017 Giving Compass goes live in partnership with Giving Tech Labs as a minimal viable product (MVP)
November 2018 Giving Compass publishes Charting Our Course: First-year Reflections
June 2019 Giving Compass spins out from Giving Tech Labs from an MVP product toward a long-term, scalable platform
July 2019 In partnership with Stanford PACS, Giving Compass launches the Philanthropy Resource Directory
December 2019 Giving Compass reaches 40,000 users per month
December 2019 Giving Compass publishes its 2019 annual reflection
March 2020 In partnership with National Center for Family Philanthropy, Giving Compass launches the Coronavirus and COVID-19 Funds Directory
May 2020 Giving Compass surpasses 78,000 users - 200% YoY growth
December 2020 Giving Compass publishes its 2020 annual reflection
October 2021 Giving Compass releases the latest version of Giving Planner, which includes its new Benchmark Calculator
November 2021 Giving Compass launches a repository of social justice nonprofits
December 2021 Giving Compass publishes its 2021 annual reflection
January 2022 Giving Compass spins out from the Raikes Foundation as an independent 501(c)(3) organization.
July 2022 Giving Compass Network acquires X4Impact, a data intelligence company for social innovation in the U.S.
December 2022 Giving Compass publishes its 2022 annual reflection

The Facts

The world faces many pressing problems, but impact-driven donors can create lasting change by proactively learning more, getting involved, and giving with impact.

Guided by the principles of IDP -- equity, effectiveness, due diligence, and transparency -- Giving Compass:

85% of donors want more impact

32% spend 2 hours per year to inform their giving

9% do comparative research before giving

*Camber Collective, Money For Good 2014

Presents facts and frameworks in our library of curated and original articles, columns, videos, and podcasts. Updated daily. Sign up for our newsletter.
Features event listings, volunteer opportunities, and tools to help donors connect with others, find support, and get involved.
Creates partnerships with nonprofit and philanthropy experts to provide credible information and trusted best practices.
Offers a dynamic digital platform for the best user experience.

85% of donors want more impact
32% spend 2 hours per year to inform their giving
9% do comparative research before giving

*Camber Collective, Money For Good 2014

Our Impact

(Source: Google Analytics, 2023)

22,000 Users Connected to equity-focused giving opportunities.
2,000,000 Views Of philanthropic articles, best practices, and partner collections.
57,000 Views Of an established library of Impact-driven philanthropy resources.
3,000 Users Discovered information about philanthropic advisors, networks, and research.
28,000 Users Accessed special coverage resources that addressed urgent needs and crises.

Connecting Donors to Community-led Solutions

Our Funders

Our Content Partners

1954 Project

Animal Grantmakers

Alliance for Education

BELE Network

Beth Kanter

BlackHer

Black Voters Matter

Boardsource

Blue Meridian Partners

Bridgespan Group

Bright Funds

Camelback Ventures

Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Center for Effective Philanthropy

Center for High Impact Philanthropy

Chandler Foundation

Charity Navigator

City Year

Clean Energy Districts of Iowa

Colorado Succeeds

Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque

Donors of Color Network

Dasra

David Bonbright

Emergent Fund

Equity in Education Coalition

Exponent Philanthropy

Fidelity Charitable

GlobalGiving

Global Washington

Goodnation

Imperative

Indiaspora

JustFund

KABOOM!

Latino Community Foundation

LeAnne Moss, June Wilson, and Candace Tkachuck

Leap Ambassadors Community

Milken Institute

Minneapolis Foundation

Mission Investors Exchange

Movement Voter Project

National Center for Family Philanthropy

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

New England International Donors

New Profit

Noel S. Anderson, Lisette Nieves, and Becca Huntting

OneAmerica

Philanthropy Together

PhilanthropyWoRx

Raikes Foundation

Seattle Foundation

Science Philanthropy Alliance

Schwab Charitable

Social Impact Exchange

Social Venture Partners

Stanford PACS

Stanford Social Innovation Review

The Johnson Center

The Life You Can Save

The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI)

The Philanthropy Workshop

The ImPact

VolunteerMatch

VoteAmerica

Women's Philanthropy Institute