1. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie GUIDESTAR A knowledge infrastructure to transform the nonprofit sector in Ireland Presentation by Patricia Quinn 6th November 2008

2. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie Our project The people involved Our funders and partners What we have learned What we plan to do now

3. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie Unincorporated Associations (?) Schools and colleges Friendly Societies (104) Charitable or benevolant foundations and trusts (?) Religious congregations, churches and associations Trades Unions (c.70) The nonprofit sector in Ireland Entities with charitable status From Revenue Companies limited by guarantee and without share capital

4. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie Additional content Free public website Relational database of >10,000 Irish nonprofits New channel to donors, volunteers Extensive, transparent public information Web-based services e.g. online donations Sectoral intelligence, trend data Timely due diligence reports Services to grant- makers, regulators Raw data for researchers, analysts

5. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie What’s on the website? Names, addresses, contact details Organisation purpose Organisation history, governance and management Financial profile Organisation type, programmes, activities, beneficiaries

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9. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie Supporting philanthropy: a) the website Comprehensive searchable information Microsites can be readily updated/targeted Information presented consistently, comprehensively, comparably Better information about foundations and trusts Greater accountability, transparency for nonprofits and grant-making foundations

10. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie Supporting philanthropy: b) the database Granular database with 100s of data fields Core information collected centrally, at no cost to listed organisations Voluntary disclosures augment default content Financial data subject to 3rd party assurance (audit) Capacity for sectoral or sub-sectoral comparative analysis, trend analysis over time Database provides a service to organisations in the sector and the sector’s stakeholders

11. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie How does Guidestar support philanthropy? The sector is stronger and more coherent Everyone has greater access to information about funding, activities, performance Policy-makers and researchers can interpret trends based on reliable, extensive data Philanthropists and donors can avail of research, due diligence, channel of communication with sector, other information services The public has a better understanding of the purposes and impacts of philanthropy

12. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie Why now? Sectoral self-regulation anticipates government regulation Chronic lack of data constrains competition, consolidation, growth Value for money: single centralised data source has multiple applications for all sectors

13. 6 November 2008www.guidestar.ie What’s next? Launch www. guidestar.ie Secure funding Establish expert groups Procure records (round 1, then continuously ) Map data to database and test Import data to Website and test Start communication campaign Market data services Launch site to listed organisations Develop & test data services month 1 12 months 24 months