14 people found this review helpful
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August 4, 2011
14 people found this review helpful
For more than two weeks, I have been complaining to you that my account was hacked. I sent you three emails and wrote a comment here. I complained to you that at least 4 or 5 accounts with my name had been set up to create havoc on the BCO review site. I ask you to remove the duplicate accounts that you allowed. And for that, I get "my" account deleted. Given the lack of interest and the time that elapsed, there's no telling the extent of the hacking that occurred here. I also ask you to go to the BreastCancer.org website and read the comments posted there not the views - the comments. They brag about setting up multiple accounts, because you do not check if the account name is use before you allowed it to be used multiple times. Others joked that you do not require the terms and conditions to be checked. Others discovered that they did not need valid email addresses and bragged about that in their comments. Others discovered that they did not need to do a review at all - they could just harass with the new userid you had given them. Fortunately, while I was waiting two - three weeks for you to show any interest in this problem, I copied what I needed to copy regarding this and the emails that I sent you. There are no words strong enough for your lack of timeliness, indifference, or your incompetance.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The review site.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Have some level of security!
June 17, 2011
I am pleased to volunteer my time with GreatNonprofits.org. I originally helped to beta-test the website by putting up profiles for me and for the charity I work for and working out the bugs. Next I was a "site monitor" to help ensure that reviews met the standards for civil discourse. I enjoy working with the staff; they really care about helping nonprofits tell their stories through profiles and reviews. After my experience I would not donate to or volunteer for an organization without researching them.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I was inspired by reading all of the early reviews from clients, volunteers, donors and partners at charities from all over the US. Nonprofits touch so many lives in (mostly) positive ways!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
None, the group is always working to improve.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
3 people found this review helpful
June 16, 2011
3 people found this review helpful
I was initially excited at the prospect of a service for nonprofit reviewing akin to Yelp, which I've enjoyed since 2005. This service has a lot of kinks to work out, though, and I hope leadership arises from within to address its responsibility and accountability to the independent sector.
Specifically, I am referring to the fact that GreatNonprofits will not perform any level of due diligence and reasonable investigation around false, damaging reviews. Let's face it - there are people out there who become upset with nonprofits for any number of reasons and then take it out on the NPO in a public forum to maximize damage. If the complaint is relevant, the organizations I know in the sector (including my own) are usually pretty great about taking accountability. We always want to do better.
In the case of my organization's first review, it was written by someone who wasn't hired for a job. They got upset and wrote a disparaging review of our agency, and of another they were not hired at. The reviews offer no constructive value, they reviewed no other NPOs, nor did the reviewer use a real name (which should tell you something). Based on the "star" rating system, it was our first review, so it made us look like a "one star" nonprofit.
I reached out to the reviewer to get more information and was ignored. I asked the other agency they reviewed to advocate GreatNonprofits to remove the fake reviews. I asked Great Nonprofits twice to at least investigate and remove it, but they merely cited that they were free from liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. They also advised me that they will release the user's information with a subpoena. I don't want their information and our agency can't waste resources on a subpoena! I simply want the review investigated by GreatNonprofits and removed when they see that my complaints have merit. It's simple customer service.
I am all for free speech and all constitutional rights. However, prospective donors and funders look at these ratings and make judgments about nonprofits. Situations like the one we experienced can block potential funding. When libelous or slanderous activities damage the reputation of an organization thereby preventing it from positive business achievements, that is also unconstitutional and can be prosecuted by law.
A lot of other agencies have the same complaint, so it's just a matter of time before a rally cry goes up and GreatNonprofits feels serious pressure to change their tactics. If they organized to be a responsible partner in our sector, they need to understand and practice ethics as they have power to affect growth and progress in our communities.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
its unwillingness to be accountable for its power dynamic in the independent sector, and a shortfall in ethical, fair service provision.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
If GreatNonprofits was TRULY a great nonprofit, it would review and revise its Code of Conduct and create a reasonable process by which they investigate complaints about damaging, malicious reviews.
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
A little
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
No
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Somewhat badly
How did you find this group?
I was advised by a large foundation that part of their due diligence process is to read the rating and reviews on this site. It informs whether agencies get funding from them, in other words. I checked out the site and thought it was a nice idea.
What, if any, change in your life has this group encouraged?
My generation of nonprofit professionals is encouraged to be "disruptive" to the end that it causes positive change. This experience with GreatNonprofits makes me want to mobilize my nonprofit peers to facilitate changes be made to their Code of Conduct, ethics, and inquiry reviews.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
April 6, 2011
Great NonProfits is wonderful! I have found working with them was a very pleasant and professional experience.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Working together improving parts of their website. They have an excellent understanding of the needs and requirements of their end-users.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
do nothing! GNP is doing just fine.
1 person found this review helpful
April 1, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
Youth Journalism International has found Great Nonprofits a wonderful resource for learning more about our own organization and for telling the world about its activities.
We also have to say a word of praise for how quickly its technical staff fixed a glitch not of its own making. These folks are really good.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Helping us hone our work and spread the word.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Not sure. I'm glad it's teamed up with GlobalGiving.
December 30, 2010
I had the pleasure of working for GreatNonprofits during the second half of 2010, and I truly believe in this organization's ability to revolutionize the nonprofit sector. I spoke to many nonprofits during my time there that raved about GreatNonprofits and the powerful feedback/storytelling tool it provides. Perla Ni and her fabulous team are giving a voice to those most closely touched by nonprofits -- people whose stories might not be heard otherwise. The GreatNonprofits staff is composed of some of the most dedicated and hardworking people I have ever met; their belief in and commitment to the GreatNonprofits mission is a testament to the organization's value.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
interviewing nonprofit organizations that were able to leverage their reviews on GreatNonprofits to raise more money, improve programs, etc.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
give it more funding!
More feedback...
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
December 28, 2010
I've served on the board of this remarkable organization almost since its inception. Founder Perla Ni is an inspiration, and the organization's mission is close to my heart: offering a viable alternative to the financially-based evaluations of nonprofit effectiveness from the self-appointed watchdog organizations.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
reading comments from nonprofit executives that testify to the usefulness of reviews posted on GreatNonprofits -- in fundraising, in strengthening staff and board morale, and in gaining wider recognition for their work
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
if I had it, give $10 million
November 12, 2010
4 people found this review helpful
This group allows stalkers and kooks to post false negative "reviews" about any non-profit they like. They are allowing people to harass good groups which help children and animals. They do not enforce their own Terms and Conditions, "You may post or submit feedback, materials, information, ideas, opinions and other content ("Content"), provided that your Content does not: (i) violate a third party's rights, including any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, moral right, privacy right, right of publicity, or any other intellectual property or proprietary right; (ii) contain material that is false, intentionally misleading, or defamatory; (iii) contain material that is unlawful, including illegal hate speech or pornography; exploits or otherwise harms minors; (iv) contain images of or links or references to tobacco and alcohol products; or (v) violate or advocate the violation of any law or regulation."
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
They have allowed a cyberstalker to post obscene, disgusting, libelous, false "reviews" about my organization. They have allowed a sicko to post that I "ass raped a baby to death" and I "give porn to children." They've allowed this person to post that I'm a "convicted criminal" with a "bench warrant out for my arrest." These things are utterly untrue. This company has no shame.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Shut it down, sue the board of directors and arrest them for aiding and abetting criminal stalkers.
4 people found this review helpful
September 29, 2010
4 people found this review helpful
This site has high-minded words but its actions DAMAGE many great nonprofits. Any kook can write a bunch of lies about a "real" experience and cause real damage.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
California
More feedback...
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
2 people found this review helpful
April 21, 2010
2 people found this review helpful
Great nonprofits appears to be a politically-motivated group pretending to be a dispassionate, non-partisan charity monitor. The first review received by several very well run conservative groups appear to be merely hit pieces. One on Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, for example, says the group should lose its tax-exempt status just because it doesn't agree with the global warming orthodoxy. It's donors sure know already about its writings on the topic and the suggestion that the group should lose its tax-exempt status borders on libel. After reviewing Greatnonprofit's funding sources, it appears this could be by design. The funders are a veritable Who's Who of left-wing environmental funders... W.K. Kellogg, Hewlett and others. This group has no credibility whatsoever.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Harming the reputation of extremely well-managed, effective free market oriented groups.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
End the anonymous reviews or just shut the whole thing down.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Learning about its funding sources, which gives a pretty good idea of its political leanings... and it is very much to the ideological left.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
None.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
...Harm the reputation of other great organizations
Ways to make it better...
The reviews I saw were fair. Every nutty left-wing group receives positive reviews while all the ones that are right of center with which I'm familiar received negative ones.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Losing credibility because of anonymous, astroturf reviews that are orchestrated from groups with axes to grind.
One thing I'd also say is that...
If greatnonprofits wants to be a credible charity monitor, it should disclose all its sources of funding and the amounts. It should also post the grant proposals sent to these funders so that the public can see what the donors thought they were getting.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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