Association of Fundraising Professionals
The AFP represents 26,000 members in 172 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs.

 CA Attorney General
Useful source of information about charities' IRS 990 forms.

 Christian Science Monitor
Information about the fifty largest charities (quite old information - 2003).

 GuideStar
"Connecting people with non-profit information".

 Internal Revenue Service
Tax information for charities and other non-profits.

 The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO)
The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) is an association of state offices charged with oversight of charitable organizations in the United States

 National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS)

Number of Public Charities in the United States, 2006

 National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)
Independent non-profit organization which works to strengthen the non-profit sector and improve its ability to represent and serve individuals politically, economically or socially disadvantaged, by promoting greater philanthropic openness and accountability

 Society for Non-Profit Organizations
SNPO seeks to provide nonprofit staff members, volunteers, and board members with affordable resources and information to work more effectively and efficiently towards accomplishing their mission

Many activities in the field of sponsorship have a charitable dimension; so, in a sense, the cause-related sector is perhaps more all-embracing than the other major sponsorship categories.

Clearly organizations involved in activities which are essentially aimed at 'doing good' are particularly attractive as investment opportunities for the sponsor. Of course great care should be taken to avoid the numerous potential pitfalls

So, as in other forms of sponsorship, it's wise to be very clear about your objectives and how they are to be addressed by the specific rights conferred by the sponsorship contract. And, after the event, to undertake some form of audit to ensure that what was promised was in fact delivered.

Useful information can be gained from websites such as those listed to the left. Whilst specialist sponsorship consultants and agencies can offer valuable advice, there is no substitute for undertaking research of one's own on aspects such as the tax position of sponsors; the level of overheads incurred by the organization you are thinking of supporting; and developing an understanding of terms such as 'charity', 'fundraising', 'philanthropy', 'patronage', 'payroll giving', etc..

Once you've made these checks, the very positive benefits of brand associations generated by cause-related sponsorship are there for the taking. Not to mention the satisfaction of knowing that your company is contributing to a worthy cause ...

Richard Fox