What happened to Verified?
Answer:
Idealist no longer "verifies" nonprofit organizations.
Idealist is an "open system" which means that anyone can create a profile on Idealist. Our staff checks every listing to make sure it sounds reasonable, but it is conceivable that someone unaffiliated with an organization can create a profile in that organization's name.
We had used the verification system as a way to ensure that employees of a given organization are in fact responsible for their Idealist profile and granted them the ability to search our volunteer profile database. Previously, organizations filled out a verification application and sent it to us, together with a copy of their tax-exempt certification. Nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are not tax-exempt sent a copy of their latest newsletter, brochure, or other official organization documents.
However we have ceased to verify organizations in this way and have opened up the ability to search the volunteer profiles to every organization and group.
