---
title: Charity Vetting Process
url: https://www.pifster.org/charity-vetting-process/
date: 2024-08-29T05:18:56+00:00
modified: 2026-11-01T15:35:24+00:00
lang: en_US
---

Transparency

# How we vet every cause

We know you care about where your hard-earned money goes, so we take the guesswork out of giving! That’s why PIFster’s charity vetting process ensures every cause, charity, and person on our app is the real deal.

[See this month’s causes](/current-charities-grid/)[Suggest a cause](/become-a-pifster/#suggest)

![Shashana Kaplan, PIFster co-founder, smiling as she sits on steps outdoors](/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PXL_20230903_144831454-768x1020.jpg)

## Legitimacy check

We’re like digital detectives.

✓

Social media sleuthing: We scroll through their feeds to make sure they’re walking the talk.

✓

501(c)(3) status: That magic number means they’re officially a charitable organization.

✓

History & company structure: We dig into their past and see how they’re organized, using resources like [Charity Navigator](https://www.charitynavigator.org/) and [Guidestar](https://www.guidestar.org/).

✓

Lawsuit scan: We make sure they haven’t been caught up in any legal trouble.

✓

Board member background checks: We make sure the people in charge have clean records.

## Financial deep dive

Following the money trail.

✓

Overhead & salaries: We check to see if they’re spending responsibly.

✓

Funding sources: We look at where their money comes from (government grants, donations, etc.).

✓

Spending on the cause: The most important part! We make sure your money is making a difference.

✓

Spending breakdown: We want to know exactly where every dollar goes.

## In a nutshell

We do the homework so you can give with confidence. Every suggestion on PIFster has passed our rigorous vetting process. So go ahead, open your heart and your wallet: you’re in good hands!

[Meet our past winners](/past-winners-grid/)[See how PIFster works](/how-pifster-works/)

[![Candid Gold Seal of Transparency](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/candid-seal-gold-2026.jpg)](https://app.candid.org/profile/14632547/pifster-inc-92-1821142)

## We hold ourselves to the same standard

PIFster Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 92-1821142) and holds the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency.

[View our Candid profile](https://app.candid.org/profile/14632547/pifster-inc-92-1821142)[Verify with the IRS](https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/)