In the crowded landscape of nonprofits, trust is everything. With thousands of organizations asking for your attention, time, and donations every day, it is not always easy to know which ones are making a significant impact. That is why we are proud to announce that our foundation has earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid, an internationally recognized organization that evaluates nonprofit transparency and accountability. This recognition is more than just a badge. It is a reflection of our commitment to being clear, honest, and effective in everything we do. In this blog post, we will explain what this seal means, why it matters, and what it says about who we are as an organization.
What Is the Gold Seal of Transparency?
Candid, born from the merger of GuideStar and Foundation Center, is a trusted source for nonprofit data. Their Seal of Transparency program helps donors, funders, and the public identify trustworthy and effective organizations.
The program has four levels, each level requires organizations to share increasingly detailed information:
- Bronze: Basic organization info (contact, leadership, mission)
- Silver: Adds program details, goals, and capabilities
- Gold: Includes financials, strategic objectives, and measurable outcomes
- Platinum: Focuses on long-term impact and learning
By achieving the Gold Seal, we have gone beyond surface-level information. We have made our strategies, financials, and outcomes fully available to offer donors and partners a transparent view of how we operate and what we are achieving.
Why Transparency Is Not Optional
We all can be skeptical at times, and sometimes it is justified. Organizations can make bold promises but offer little evidence of their impact. In that context, transparency becomes more than a best practice. It becomes a basic expectation.
Donors and volunteers deserve clarity. The Gold Seal signals that we take this seriously. By embracing transparency, we are committing to the following:
- Making our financial information easily accessible
- Outlining how we measure and track impact
- Sharing the real-world results of our programs
- Creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
This is about accountability to our donors, our partners, and the communities we serve.
What It Took to Get Here
Earning the Gold Seal was not automatic. It required focused effort, teamwork, and a willingness to audit ourselves rigorously. Over several months, our staff and volunteers came together to make our systems and results ready for public review.
The process involved several key steps:
- Updating tax filings and board information
- Documenting our goals and evaluation frameworks
- Publishing key performance metrics and program results
- Reviewing and strengthening governance and policies
It can be easy for that work to be unnoticed, but it was essential. It reflects our commitment to be stewards of the trust that our donors and volunteers place in us.
What It Means for Our Donors and Volunteers
Every person who has donated, volunteered, or advocated on our behalf should feel proud of what this recognition represents. The Gold Seal means your support is going toward a well-run, high-integrity organization.
Here is what this achievement offers you:
- Transparency: See where your contributions go
- Credibility: Know that our strategies and financials are externally reviewed
- Confidence: Trust that we are managing resources with care and intent
- Clarity: Understand how we define success and how we are progressing toward it
You are not investing in vague ideas. You are supporting a real organization with real results. And now, with a public profile that proves it.
How You Can Use the Seal
We encourage you to explore our Candid profile. It is a powerful tool you can use to:
- Learn more about our leadership, governance, and programs
- See our financials and annual goals
- Share with others who are considering supporting our work
- Validate your decision to get more involved (as a donor, partner, or volunteer)
If you are part of a company, philanthropic group, or community network that supports nonprofits, this seal offers extra confidence that we are a reliable, high-performing partner.
What’s Next?
The Gold Seal is a proud milestone. But it is not the end of the journey. We are currently working on adding more details to our profile. Furthermore, we are already thinking about how to reach the next level in the future. The Platinum Seal, Candid’s highest designation, focuses on long-term impact: how organizations learn, evolve, and deliver on their mission.
More broadly, we see transparency as a mindset that shapes how we work every day. Our ongoing priorities include the following:
- Building a culture of open communication (internally and externally)
- Measuring success with clear, consistent indicators
- Regularly reviewing our strategies to ensure alignment with our mission
- Involving our community in shaping what transparency looks like
With this seal, we are more prepared than ever to keep changing lives: openly, responsibly, and with purpose.
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If you believe in the power of education to change lives, we invite you to support us and become part of our mission. Whether you volunteer your time, become a donor, or simply share our story, your support helps us keep vulnerable students in university and on the path to a better future.
