GuideStarReviews of guidestar.org

CANDID/Guide Star is suspicious Candid which operates Guide Star as a means for helping donors find quality nonprofits, is itself, questionable. No corporation is reliable when you can never speak to a human being. It appears everything is operated by low tech AI. I have been trying to solve a problem with my account (incorrect name) for a month. I get the same feedback. When I try to respond they tell me the Issue is Closed. I have to start over. The answer to my concern is addressed with the same language no matter how I frame it. I don't trust companies that don't have any people in customer support. How can they legitimately say they ensure that other are "candid" with their operations when you can never speak to anyone at their operation? Additionally, they offer "LIVE CHAT" but the link takes you to a static page where you can request support. It's a lie to tell someone they can receive LIVE chat support only to have a page to request an email contact. I'm really disturbed by this organization.

Guidestar is awful if you are a non profit. There is zero customer service and the delay times to update our 990s is outrageous. They have yet to give us the stars we deserve. We have lost a lot of money waiting for them to update our 990. Do not trust them. Perhaps if we pay them they will help but by the reviews they don't help. Good non profits are getting screwed and losing funding by their lack of customer support.

The site is too slow. GuideStar used to be an incredible resource to learn about foundations, their personnel, finances, and giving history. Ever since the site was updated with new features (over the past year) the site is extremely slow to the point where it is almost unusable if you are on a networked computer. Foundation Directory Online (also owned by Candid) does not have this problem. It needs to be rectified, expecially given the new $3,000 price tag for "Premium" benefits.

They are happy to sell your nonprofit subscription services, but have no resources for customer support. Their foundation directory product through Candid has absolutely no customer support. No phone number can be found on website. I had to use a third party to get a telephone number that leads only to voicemail or directs users to their website. New York office is closed at 2:00 pm during the business day. No way to reach a living breathing human being. How can businesses operate this way? Selling a product that is not supported is simply not ethical.

Helpful for 501c3's to gain searchability

It's great to find a "non-profit" equivalent of Trustpilot but they do not allow user reviews and are far too trusting of the information provided by the organisations. A "bronze seal of transparency" can be obtained simply with an email and P.O. Box address...