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updatedAt: 2026-09-07T12:45:09.000Z
agentTools:
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---

# Get started with Charity Check

## Overview

Use Candid to validate organizations to ensure donations are 100% compliant with the IRS.

* Ensure charities are compliant within key databases including IRS Publication 78, IRS Business Master File, Internal Revenue Bulletin, Automatic Revocation of Exemption, and OFAC Specially Designated Nationals List.
* Gather additional details to support decision making, such as organization type, deductibility limitations, religious organization status, revocations, and more.
* Download a timestamped Charity Check PDF document to archive for due diligence.
* Verify multiple organizations simultaneously to serve solutions at scale.
* Confirm organizations' nonprofit status with California state authorities, including the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts and Franchise Tax Board.

## Endpoints

Each Charity Check API is a distinct endpoint that requires a unique API key. Please contact your Candid Account Manager if you need an API key.

* [Charity Check API](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charitycheck_v1)\
  Validate organizations to ensure donations are 100% compliant with the IRS.

* [Charity Check PDF API](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charitycheckpdf_v1)\
  Generate a PDF report to validate nonprofit status and eligibility with a 100% IRS compliant charity check.

* [Charity Check Bulk API](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charitycheckbulk_v1)\
  Validate nonprofit status and eligibility of up to 25 organizations at a time with a 100% IRS compliant charity check.

* [State-level Charity Check - California](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charitycheck_v1_state)\
  Check whether charitable organizations may or may not operate in California with Attorney General Registry and Franchise Tax Board data.

## Use Cases

* Grantmaking: Charity status confirmation and audit trail
  * Utilize the Charity Check API to check the status and compliance of a single nonprofit organization at a time with detailed data. Utilize the Charity Check PDF API to download and save a PDF copy of the charity check report, which includes a timestamp, to build an audit trail for grantmaking.
* PDF Charity Check Report
  * Utilize the Charity Check PDF API to download and save a stand-alone Charity Check report on a single organization at a time.
* Batch and automate Charity Check jobs
  * Utilize the Charity Check Bulk API to batch and automate large charity check jobs of up to 25 organizations at a time.

## Charity check overview user guides

* [**Interpret Charity Check Data**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/interpret-charity-check-data-fields)\
  Explore a detailed explanation of the Charity Check fields and potential outputs.

* [**Charity Check Example Responses**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charity-check-example-responses)\
  See example responses to interpret organization statuses.

* [**FAQs - Charity Check**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/faqs-charity-check)\
  Read some of our frequently asked questions regarding Charity Check.

## Charity Check endpoint-specific user guides

* [**Charity Check API**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charity-check-api)\
  Use Candid to validate organizations to ensure donations are 100% compliant with the IRS.

* [**Charity Check PDF API**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charity-check-pdf-api)\
  Download a formatted Charity Check PDF and save it for your records.

* [**Charity Check Bulk API**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/charity-check-bulk-api)\
  Validate up to 25 organizations at a time with bulk capacity.

* [**State-level Charity Check - California**](https://developer.candid.org/reference/state-level-charity-check-california)\
  Confirm organizations' nonprofit status in California.

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![](https://files.readme.io/d30618e-Charity_Check_API.png "Charity Check API.png")