No Time to Research Nonprofits? The Giving Library Has Done It for You

John Arnold, a former Enron natural gas trader, returned capital to investors in his Centaurus Advisors hedge fund last year, and appears to be winding down the operation, according to Forbes, which put his personal fortune at $3 billion.

Donors can use the Giving Library to explore participating nonprofits in two ways: short-format videos that provide a broad understanding of an organization's work; and long-format video interviews to model an in-depth, face-to-face meeting between a donor and a nonprofit.

The long-format video interviews address each organization's origins, objectives, success metrics, leverage points, effectiveness, possible misconceptions, accomplishments, challenges, future plans and gaps.

In addition, donors can use the Connection Center feature, which allows them to plan their giving on their own terms. Donors may directly connect with organizations of interest—anonymously or by voluntarily identifying themselves—to ask questions or request additional information.

The foundation said nonprofit organizations included in the Giving Library were evaluated to ensure that they are 501(c)(3) public charities. Otherwise, a nonprofit's participation in the library is not an endorsement by the foundation, it said.