How can I find out a list of donors for a particular charity?

Question

I want to find out the names (and if possible contact info) of donors to a particular charity. I assume that this information is public knowledge - I just need to know how to access it.

Answer 1

It really depends on the charity. Some charitable organizations keep all records of who donated what confidential. The easiest way is to simply call up the charity and if they post the donors publicly then they can provide you with a full list. Otherwise they'll just say no. Most of those lists are kept in house and aren't published.

Answer 2

Depending on if they are anonymous donors you can get their info from the charity in question.

Answer 3

Contact the charity and ask for a copy of their annual report. This will list all donations from every source that did not request anonymity at the time of the gift. You will not get the addresses and contact information, just the names.

To find out more about foundations that made the gifts, search on foundationcenter.com. Each charity must file an annual 990 form with the IRS, and Foundation Center makes these available for public viewing. On the form you will find contact information and focus area of the charitable institution.

If the donor was a corporation, perform a Google search under the corporation's name to get contact info.

If the donor was an individual, you will need a special search software, such as WealthEngine, to get comprehensive information.

This is how professional fundraisers do it.