Readiness scoring methodology
We’re not arbitrary about who FFC helps or in what order. Every charity gets a readiness score from the same transparent rules — here they are in full.
How the queue is sorted
- Mission tier — essential-mission charities carry a large bonus and sort first.
- Readiness score — higher scores sort higher within a mission tier.
- Community votes — 👍 reactions on the issue break ties.
- Submission date — oldest waiting first, all else equal.
The score affects sort order and the tier badge — never eligibility. A charity that is “Just getting started” is welcome; it is simply lower in the queue.
Tier labels
| Mature | 270 |
| Established | 180 |
| Developing | 90 |
| Foundational | 0 |
Labels map from the numeric score (shown as the lower bound). Below 0 is “Just getting started.” We show the tier badge publicly, but not the numeric score.
Mission category
| Essential | +50 |
| General | 0 |
| Niche | -10 |
How to improve: Essential missions (food, water, shelter, emergency response, disaster relief, mental-health crisis, veterans, domestic violence) carry the largest bonus.
Charity stage
| Approved 501(c)(3) | +20 |
| Pre-501(c)(3), pursuing | +5 |
| Ongoing project, not pursuing | 0 |
Affiliation
| Independent | 0 |
| FFC-recipient sponsored | 0 |
| FFC-sponsored + own 501(c)(3) | +5 |
| Franchise / national affiliate | -15 |
| Non-FFC operating 501(c)(3) | -20 |
| Corporate fiscal sponsor | -40 |
How to improve: Independent charities and FFC-recipient–sponsored charities score best; corporate fiscal sponsorship is penalized. See /intake-help/fiscal-sponsorship.
Revenue & form filed
| Pre-revenue / in formation | 0 |
| 990-N (≤ $50K) | +20 |
| 990-EZ ($50K–$200K) | +12 |
| 990 ($200K–$500K) | +5 |
| 990 ($500K–$1M) | 0 |
| 990 ($1M–$5M) | -5 |
| 990 (over $5M) | -10 |
Trajectory (5-year)
| Plans to remain small | +10 |
| Modest growth | +3 |
| Substantial growth | -3 |
| Major-grant pursuit | -8 |
| No clear trajectory | 0 |
Funding model
| Self-funded | +8 |
| Donations only | +8 |
| Donations + small grants | +5 |
| Significant grants | 0 |
| Major grant-dependent | -5 |
| Government contract primary | -5 |
Phone (per required contact)
| No phone | -10 |
| Landline | 0 |
| Personal cell | +5 |
| Org-specific number | +10 |
How to improve: An org-specific number (Google Voice, Teams, T-Mobile DIGITS, PBX) scores best. See /intake-help/public-contact-info.
Email (per required contact)
| No email | -10 |
| Personal free provider | +2 |
| orgname@gmail.com | +5 |
| Org-domain email | +10 |
How to improve: Org-domain email scores best — FFC sets these up automatically at launch.
Mailing address (primary)
| No address | -20 |
| Personal residence | -3 |
| PO box | +3 |
| Commercial mailbox | +5 |
| Real office | +10 |
| Registered agent | +12 |
How to improve: A registered-agent service (any provider) scores highest; add more states for up to +15. See /intake-help/mailing-address.
Board seats
| Required seat — missing | -15 |
| Required seat — named | +3 |
| Required seat — with LinkedIn | +5 |
| Optional seat — named | +2 |
| Optional seat — with LinkedIn | +5 |
How to improve: Name the three required officers (President, Secretary, Treasurer) with LinkedIn URLs. See /intake-help/board-requirements.
Candid / GuideStar (501(c)(3))
| Profile URL | +10 |
| Direct profile link | +5 |
| Gold Seal | +20 |
| Platinum Seal | +30 |
How to improve: Gold is FFC’s minimum; reach Platinum for the most points. See /intake-help/guidestar-candid.
Existing website
| None | 0 |
| Placeholder / landing only | +3 |
| Functional with content | +8 |
Application progress (pre-501(c)(3))
| State incorporation filed | +10 |
| Incorporation approved | +5 |
| EIN obtained | +10 |
| Bylaws drafted | +5 |
| Bylaws adopted | +5 |
| Form 1023-EZ submitted | +10 |
| Form 1023 long submitted (voluntary) | +12 |
How to improve: Each milestone you complete adds points; submitting Form 1023 (long form) earns the most. See /intake-help/501c3-application.
Operations evidence (non-pursuing)
| Documented activity (6 mo) | +5 |
| Recurring activities | +5 |
| Sponsoring institution | +5 |
| Attestation letter | +5 |
| Active community (>10) | +3 |
How to improve: For ongoing nonprofit-nature projects not pursuing 501(c)(3): document real, recurring activity.
Partnership due diligence (non-501(c)(3) paths)
| No documented outreach | -10 |
| Named one org considered | +3 |
| Outreach to 2+ orgs | +8 |
| Outreach to 3+ with reasons | +12 |
| Org declined / referred you | +15 |
How to improve: Show you looked for existing organizations before starting your own.
Documents
| Articles of incorporation | +3 |
| Bylaws | +5 |
| State solicitation registration (each) | +3 |
| Brand assets | +3 |
How to improve: Attach or link your founding documents. See /intake-help/supporting-documents.
Additive bonuses
External integrations (+3 each): Zeffy, Idealist, Taproot, VolunteerMatch, Charity Navigator, Benevity, Network for Good.
Policy pages (+3 each): Donation Policy, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Vulnerability Disclosure Policy, Security Acknowledgement. See policy pages.
Time-in-status decay
The model also has a decay rule for charities that submit and then stall: −2 points per month past the expected window for a milestone, capped at the points originally earned. Keeping your issue updated as you progress avoids decay entirely. It rewards momentum without ever removing a charity from the queue.
Decay is part of the scoring model and applies to intake issues as milestone tracking comes online; it is not applied to the current live-site listings.
Why we score some things negatively
Negative scores aren’t judgments — they reflect where FFC’s free volunteer capacity creates the most marginal value (small, non-grant-funded, US-based charities). Anything scored down is explained here, and most can be improved with the intake-help guides.