GuideStar
GuideStar, part of Candid, provides searchable data on 1.8 million US nonprofit organizations, serving donors, grantmakers, foundations, businesses, and nonprofits through web research, Pro subscriptions, and API integrations powering 230+ partner platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersWilliamsburg, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What GuideStar does
GuideStar, founded in 1994 and now operating under the Candid brand following the 2019 merger with Foundation Center, is the largest information source on nonprofit organizations and private foundations in the United States. Its core product is a searchable database of 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations plus thousands of faith-based nonprofits, built by combining IRS Form 990 filings with direct nonprofit-reported data, verified and updated daily. The platform layers a proprietary Seal of Transparency rating system (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) that lets nonprofits demonstrate accountability and helps donors, grantmakers, and businesses evaluate organizations.
Underneath the consumer-facing site, GuideStar runs an enterprise data business that exposes the same corpus through API solutions consumed by 230+ partner platforms and applications, including Meta, Salesforce, PayPal, Sage Intacct, Vanguard Charitable, Foundant, and Network for Good. It offers four monetization streams: free nonprofit profile claims (freemium), GuideStar Pro subscriptions for advanced research, enterprise API and data solutions, and custom consultation services. Pricing for Pro and API tiers is not publicly disclosed; free profile updates are the primary acquisition surface for the long tail.
GuideStar operates as part of Candid, a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York with an office in Williamsburg, and employs 51-100 people. Its go-to-market combines product-led growth (free profiles), enterprise field sales (API integrations), community-led engagement (webinars, profile claiming, learning platform), and an API-first distribution model embedded in major platforms. The current footprint is limited to the United States, with no disclosed international expansion.
GuideStar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GuideStar
- Legal name
- Candid
- Website
- https://guidestar.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- GuideStar, part of Candid, provides searchable data on 1.8 million US nonprofit organizations, serving donors, grantmakers, foundations, businesses, and nonprofits through web research, Pro subscriptions, and API integrations powering 230+ partner platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GuideStar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Data and Research Platform
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- API Documentation & Developer Portals (BPAMAOAH)
Keywords
Where GuideStar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Williamsburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GuideStar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- GuideStar Pro Subscriptions: Premium subscription service for researching nonprofits with deeper access to financial data, leadership information, and advanced search capabilities
- API and Data Solutions: Enterprise-grade API access and data solutions for platforms, programs, and applications needing to integrate nonprofit data
- Free Nonprofit Profiles: Free basic profiles for nonprofits to claim and update their information, generating network effects and data coverage
- Consultation Services: Schedule consultations for API solutions and custom data needs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free nonprofit profiles with Seal of Transparency |
| Subscription | Annual | GuideStar Pro for advanced nonprofit research |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
GuideStar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GuideStar operates a nonprofit information platform providing searchable access to 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations, with financial, leadership, mission, and governance data. It offers free nonprofit profiles with the Seal of Transparency rating system, a subscription-based GuideStar Pro research product, and enterprise API/data solutions that power more than 230 third-party websites, programs, and applications.
Product overview
GuideStar is a unified nonprofit data platform that serves as the premier destination for nonprofit research. The core offering consists of the GuideStar platform itself, which provides searchable access to 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations with comprehensive data including financials, leadership information, mission statements, and governance. The platform features the Seal of Transparency system (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers) that allows nonprofits to showcase their credibility to donors. Additional products include API data solutions for programmatic access to nonprofit data, and GuideStar Pro for advanced research and partnership analysis capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GuideStar (Free Nonprofit Profiles with Seal of Transparency) Free, searchable profiles of IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations and faith-based nonprofits, including financials, leadership, mission, and governance data, with the proprietary Seal of Transparency rating system for donors, grantmakers, and businesses.
- GuideStar Pro Subscription product offering advanced search capabilities, up to three years of IRS Forms 990, revenue and expense data, and CEO and Board information for nonprofit research, prospect identification, and partnership analysis.
- Candid Nonprofit API Solutions Enterprise API access and data solutions providing programmatic access to nonprofit data for powering third-party platforms, programs, and applications, with custom data consultations available.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations in database
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GuideStar
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GuideStar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GuideStar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MetacoreMeta integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data into its platform, enabling users to access nonprofit information and verify charitable organizations through Meta's ecosystem.
- SalesforcecoreSalesforce integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data, likely for nonprofit CRM and philanthropic features within their platform.
- PayPalcorePayPal integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data, potentially for charitable giving features and donor verification.
- Sage IntacctcoreSage Intacct integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data for financial management and accounting features serving nonprofit organizations.
- Vanguard CharitablecoreVanguard Charitable integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data for donor-advised fund and charitable giving services.
- FoundantcoreFoundant integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data for grant management and scholarship management solutions.
- Network for GoodcoreNetwork for Good integrates GuideStar/Candid nonprofit data for nonprofit fundraising and donor management platforms.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GuideStar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GuideStar social profiles
Digital presenceGuideStar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GuideStar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GuideStar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GuideStar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GuideStar
What does GuideStar do?
GuideStar operates a nonprofit information platform providing searchable access to 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations, with financial, leadership, mission, and governance data. It offers free nonprofit profiles with the Seal of Transparency rating system, a subscription-based GuideStar Pro research product, and enterprise API/data solutions that power more than 230 third-party websites, programs, and applications.
Is GuideStar a public or private company?
GuideStar is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was GuideStar founded?
GuideStar was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GuideStar based?
GuideStar is headquartered in Williamsburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does GuideStar make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. GuideStar Pro Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are API and Data Solutions, free Nonprofit Profiles and consultation Services.
Does GuideStar have an API?
Yes. Power your platforms with Candid's APIs to support your organizational needs. Power your systems/applications with our premier nonprofit data via APIs. Schedule consultation available for API solutions. Developer documentation is at candid.org/data/explore-apis.
What industry is GuideStar in?
GuideStar's product category is Nonprofit Data and Research Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAMAOAH, API Documentation & Developer Portals. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.