The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a familiar glow on Walmart's endless aisles. Lost in the pre-weekend routine, I scanned the shelves for baby formula. Suddenly, a warm voice broke through the white noise.

"Mr. Babb? No way!"

Kevon, a former student from my middle school teaching days, was a few inches taller and radiating newfound confidence. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, and we chatted about classes and field trips. The conversation shifted as Crystal, Kevon's mom, approached.

"Remember Kevon?" Crystal's voice held a quiet strength. "He's grown so much, hasn't he?" Kevon, a bright student with a kind heart, had an older brother named Davon, tragically lost to gun violence a few years back. The memory struck a chord as I reminisced about that tragic event and offered condolences. It was then that Crystal revealed a powerful story.

"We started a foundation in Davon's name," she explained, her eyes filled with determination. "Davon Thomas McNeal Foundation is our way of honoring him and helping others avoid the same tragedy."

Crystal's story stayed with me. As a teacher, I witnessed the power of giving and the challenges of finding the right cause and organization. There had to be a better way for passionate individuals to make a difference. It has been almost two years since I left the classroom and nearly a year since I started working as an Associate Product Manager at Giving Compass. One of my favorite projects at Giving Compass is our Guide to Good. I am excited to announce that Giving Compass has launched a virtual assistant named Guide to Good! 

Your One-Stop Shop for Powerful Philanthropy

Imagine spending hours researching causes, sifting through endless websites, and struggling to find the right fit for your giving goals. With Guide to Good, those days are over. Here's how Guide to Good simplifies your journey:

  • Nonprofit Search of Over 1.8 Million NPOs: Guide to Good's magic lies in its comprehensive database of over 1.8 million nonprofits. Gone are when you needed an EIN or the exact organization name. Guide to Good utilizes advanced search powered by cause, location, and Giving Compass proprietary insights. This makes finding the perfect organization for your passion a breeze.
  • Article Search of Our 40,000 Articles About Issues Affecting Our Society: Guide to Good isn't just a search engine. It's a learning companion on steroids. Guide to Good integrates a vast library of content directly into your search results and provides tips and nudges to surface the information you need precisely when needed. Whether you're a seasoned philanthropist or just starting your giving journey, Guide to Good empowers informed decisions with articles, guides, and resources specifically designed for donors of all experience levels.
  • Embedded Giving Planner to Help Set Your Giving Goals: Guide to Good includes an embedded Giving Planner, a tool designed to help you set, track, and achieve your giving goals. This feature ensures that your philanthropic efforts are organized and impactful.

Guide to Good isn't just for individual donors; it can also be a powerful tool for schools and educational institutions. Imagine how it could make it easier for students, faculty, and staff to find and support local organizations, similar to the Davon Thomas McNeal Foundation. Guide to Good can help them quickly locate relevant nonprofits and access articles that explain the underlying issues and the charities working to address them. This would foster a community of informed givers better equipped to support meaningful causes.

Imagine the difference Guide to Good could have made in Crystal's journey. With Guide to Good by her side, navigating the complexities of her foundation wouldn't have been as daunting. Guide to Good could have surfaced relevant articles on nonprofit formation and fundraising strategies aligned with her cause and even connected her with success stories of similar organizations. Guide to Good would have been her guide to the space of nonprofits that many are unfamiliar with, ensuring her passion translated into action even faster. Guide to Good could be a tool to make it easier even now for her to find small local grassroots nonprofits like those in the Giving Compass Nonprofit Network that she could feel confident are making the world better by ensuring tragedy like what she endured can be prevented for others.

My encounter with Crystal was a powerful reminder of the impact individuals can create. Now, with the public launch of Guide to Good, Giving Compass is putting those same tools in your hands. We're excited to see how this new philanthropic assistant empowers you to make a difference in the causes you care about most.

Try a search now!