Nonprofit Organization Vetting Guide

Welcome to the vetting guide for the Blackbaud Verified Network and YourCause platform! Before your organization can receive donations, grants, or matching gifts through the YourCause platform, it needs to be vetted. This verifies your charity status and ensures compliance with local regulations.

Create Your Blackbaud ID and Blackbaud Verified Network Accounts

You must have a Blackbaud Verified Network account to administer your organization's profile and request it be vetted to receive charitable funds.

Blackbaud Verified Network uses Blackbaud ID (BBID) for sign-in and authentication. The email used for Blackbaud ID must be your organization email, not a personal email. If you already have a Blackbaud ID with your organization email, you can use that instead of creating a new account.

  1. Create Your Blackbaud ID:

    • Open app.blackbaud.com and select the log-in method (such as Continue with Email) to use and follow the instructions to create your Blackbaud ID.

      Tip: Each time you sign in to your account, you will select the same log-in method you chose when creating it, such as Continue with Email or Continue with Google.

    • After creating your account, you'll be taken to your Blackbaud ID profile - not Blackbaud Verified Network. From here, you can update your personal information (such as name or email) before continuing.

      Tip: If you need to update your name, email, or password in the future, return to your Blackbaud profile at app.blackbaud.com.

  2. Create Your Blackbaud Verified Network Account:

    • Open nonprofit.yourcause.com and select Sign up now.

    • Follow the instructions to create an account using your Blackbaud ID.

Tip: If you have active Blackbaud ID and Blackbaud Verified Network accounts for your organization, you can log in instead of creating new accounts.

Note: Need help logging in? See Troubleshooting Guide: Blackbaud ID Sign-In.

Register To Become A Nonprofit Administrator

Once you have a Blackbaud ID and Blackbaud Verified Network account, you'll need to register to be assigned as an administrator or manager of your nonprofit organization in Blackbaud Verified Network.

Registration steps and required documentation may vary by the type of organization. For registration instructions, see the Registration Guide that best fits your organization type in the Become A Nonprofit Administrator resources.

After submitting your administrator request, Blackbaud's Compliance team will review it and follow up if additional information is needed. You will be notified by email when approved.

Identify Your Vetting Path

After your administrator request is approved, you can identify your vetting path and begin applying. The steps to apply for vetting vary based on your country - and in special cases, how long your organization has been operating.

Blackbaud Verified Network supports direct vetting through the Blackbaud Giving Fund and Blackbaud Giving Fund International as well as partner-led vetting with a local organization via Global Partners and Global Intermediary Partners. For details, refer to the Vetting Partner and Next Steps for your country or region.

United States

Canada

Germany

United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland and Scotland)

China, Egypt, India, Lebanon, Mexico, or Venezuela (and special cases)

All other countries

Submit Your Application

If you haven't already, review Identify Your Vetting Path to determine how to apply for vetting. Follow the guide referenced in Next Steps of your vetting path to complete and submit your vetting application through your country's assigned vetting partner.

Application Is Reviewed

After submitting your vetting application, the vetting partner will review it and follow up if additional information is needed. The time it takes to complete review will vary based on the partner and how quickly it takes for your organization to complete follow-up tasks.

Application Is Approved

After your vetting partner reviews and approves your organization, vetting is complete!

Approved Organization Is Available in YourCause CSRconnect and GrantsConnect

When vetting is approved, your organization status in the Blackbaud Verified Network updates to Eligible for Giving. It appears to donors across the YourCause platform, including YourCause CSRconnect and GrantsConnect, and can begin accepting donations and applying for grants.

Next Steps

After vetting is complete, return to your Blackbaud Verified Network account to configure your settings and profile - and get ready for potential donors!

Nonprofit admins should complete these tasks:

  • Complete YourCause compliance affirmations and select affiliations - Complete any outstanding compliance statements and select affiliations. Partner companies use this information when setting up corporate giving programs. For details, see Complete Compliance Agreements and Affiliations .

  • Update your organization profile - Update the organization profile to improve donor visibility. Add a mission description and logo. For details, see Manage Your Nonprofit Profile.

Tip: In addition, ensure the disbursement and bank information your vetting partner has on file is updated. If you were vetted through the Blackbaud Giving Fund (BBGF) International, these details are managed in your Blackbaud Verified Network account. For all others, bank information is managed by your vetting partner. It can only be updated in the partner account, not in Blackbaud Verified Network.

Note: Blackbaud Giving Fund (BBGF) International vetting approvals are typically valid for two years, after which you'll need to submit a renewal application. Active nonprofit admins will be notified when it's time to renew your vetting.

FAQ

Why is vetting required?

To ensure donors, companies, and communities can give with confidence, YourCause uses a vetting framework that confirms each organization is in good standing with its local regulatory authority and meets eligibility requirements for charitable giving. This applies to organizations based in and outside of the United States.

Because nonprofit regulations vary significantly by country, YourCause partners with regional vetting authorities - such as the Blackbaud Giving Fund (United States only), Blackbaud Giving Fund International, Global Partners, and Global Intermediary Partners - to evaluate nonprofits according to local standards and compliance expectations. This approach allows us to expand global donation opportunities while maintaining accuracy, security, and trust across our international nonprofit network.

How does YourCause verify nonprofits worldwide?

To evaluate nonprofit status accurately, YourCause works with established vetting authorities that specialize in local nonprofit laws and compliance requirements. As part of the vetting process, these partners review the nonprofit and documentation details you submit based on regional standards and eligibility criteria.

Depending on your organization’s location, vetting may be completed by:

Each partner applies consistent eligibility requirements while using local expertise to confirm nonprofit status and compliance.

What are special cases?

Due to regulatory complexities or limited partner availability, Blackbaud Verified Network uses an individual vetting approach for special cases. These special cases include:

  • Organizations located in China, Egypt, India, Lebanon, Mexico, or Venezuela

  • Organizations operating for less than five years (or do not have five years of financial history)

These organizations are vetted by Global Intermediary Partners only if needed for a donor’s request, instead of through an open application. If your organization is in one of these special-case locations or does not have at least five years of financial history, you cannot initiate vetting on your own. Instead, you may need to let interested donors (or corporate program administrators) know your organization requires a special vetting request. YourCause Support will reach out to guide you if and when such a request occurs.

Note: If your assigned vetting partner is Blackbaud Giving Fund International and you do not have the required financial history, contact YourCause Support for guidance.