Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How did Pionero Philanthropy start?

Pionero Philanthropy was the idea of its Founder Harriette Rothwell who after more than 15 years of working and studying nonprofits, realized that there was a need for small nonprofits to be championed amongst the noisy and crowded nonprofit sector.

 

This coupled with a general lack of transparency and visibility of such organizations, inspired Pionero Philanthropy.

 

Watch About Harriette Here.

Is Pionero Philanthropy a business?

Pionero Philanthropy is a registered 501c3 in the US and a registered Asociación in Guatemala.
Please see here to see our legal documents

How is Pionero Philanthropy funded?

Pionero Philanthropy is funded by a mix of donors and those who pay for its data and consultancy services. We believe that a hybrid funding model helps to make the organization more sustainable.

 

To read more about our financials please click here

I want to donate to a nonprofit organization, can you help with that?

We sure can. Feel free to book a quick call with us or contact us with more information so we can narrow down what specific services you need from us.

What are your services?

We have 3 broad services:

1. Data Sales

You can purchase data on our website according to search criteria on the Guatemalan nonprofit sector. We can also make bespoke data reports according to more specific requirements if needed.

2. Fiscal Sponsorship

You can make a tax-deductible donation and support a member Guatemalan registered nonprofit through donating through Pionero Philanthropy’s 501c3 entity.

3. Consultancy 

Being on the ground experts, Pionero can act as advisers, go betweens, connectors, and partnership builders on behalf of donors who are seeking meaningful collaborations with local nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofit Nonmember Reports

Most of the organizations in our database are what we classify as Non-members. This means that they haven’t completed our evaluation process. This could be for a variety of reasons such as; ineligibility, they are going through the evaluation process, or they haven’t heard of Pionero yet! All these organizations, regardless of their status, have been researched by our data team.

Once purchased, you will receive to your email ONE excel (xls) file with each row containing the information for each nonmember nonprofit. 

Please Note: Although we make every effort to collect all the information below, due to the low online visibility of many organizations we cannot guarantee that each report will be 100% complete. Therefore, the degree of  information detail for each organization will vary.

Please see a sample report here for nonmember nonprofit organizations

The data fields in a non-member report are the following:

Registered Name
Website or Social Media
Address
Municipality
Region
Latitude
Longitude
Nonprofit Size (Nano – Extra Large)
Additional Location/s
– Region
– Municipality
– Latitude
– Longitude
– Address

Office phone number
Contact Name/s
Contact Number/s
Email/s
Mission
Description of Programs
Number of employees
Number of fundraising staff outside of Guatemala
Number of direct beneficiaries
Number of indirect beneficiaries
Annual Budget (USD)
Theme Area (up to 3 of 9 theme areas per nonprofit)

Faith based (Y/N)
Religion (eg Catholic, Jewish etc)
US Registered (Y/N)
Guatemala Registered (Y/N)
Guatemala Registration Type (Association/NGO/Foundation)
Receives Guatemala Government Funding? (Y/N)
Member Type (Member, N/A)
Year Founded
Pionero Affiliation (Eligible, Noneligible, Discontinued Partnership)
Not Eligible Reason

Nonprofit Member Reports

Nonprofits that have passed through our evaluation process are considered member nonprofits. This means that they have completed our evaluation process which includes a site visit by our team to verify certain information.

Pionero Philanthropy only recommends member organizations given the comprehensive process that each organization has gone through to become certified.

The information in these reports is a lot more extensive compared to the non-member organization reports.

Once purchased, you will receive to your email a PDF report for each member nonprofit. 

member report

 

Please see a sample report here for a member nonprofit

Please Note:  Due to nonprofits directly editing many of the sections, the degree of  information detail and the language for each report will vary.

 

 

 

The data fields in a non-member report are the following:

  • General Information

    Mission
    Theme Area (upto 3)
    Website
    Year Founded
    Nonprofit Size
    US Tax Status
    Faith Based
    Religious Affiliation
    Region
    Municipality
    Address
    Number of Direct Beneficiaries
    Number of Indirect Beneficiaries
    Type of Guatemala Nonprofit (Civil Association / NGO/ Foundation)
    Recommended By
    Description of programs

  • Employee Information

    Number of Employees
    Number of Fundraising staff outside of Guatemala
    Number of Fundraising / donor communications staff
    Policies Towards Local Staff
    Receiving public Health Care /IGGS?
    Type of Contract
    Receiving Minimum Wage?
    Holiday Policy
    Local Staff registered with Ministerio de Trabajo and receiving full benefits?

  • Financials

    Funding Sources and percentage of total funds received
    Annual Budget
    Percentage of total expenditure for admin expenses
    Government Funding

  • Funding Needs

    Expense Item
    Duration of Expense Item
    Amount Required

  • Capacity Building Interests

    Social Business
    Impact Evaluation
    Fundraising
    Administration and Planning
    Project Design and Implementation
    Computer Literacy

  • Photos

    Upto 8 photos

  • 5 Pillar Evaluation Summary

    Seal of Excellence
    Total Score /100
    Date of last score improvement
    Awards
    Demographic Context

  • Evaluation Scores in Detail

    Impact
    Developed theory of change or logic model
    Monitoring and evaluation of output indicators
    Monitoring and evaluation of outcome indicators
    Participant accounts of change
    Benchmarks and comparisons
    Provides evidence of program achievements to stakeholders
    Raises awareness of nonprofit and theme
    Volunteer/ donor retention
    Historical data of improvement
    Long term benefits

    Efficiency
    All financial numbers reported and maintained up-to-date
    Average, or better than average, liquidity ratios
    Average, or better than average, fundraising ratios
    Average, or better than average, operating ratios
    No signs of financial fraud or corruption
    Social return on investment/ cost benefit analysis
    Cost-effectiveness analysis
    Performs internal ratios and analyses
    Generates revenue to further mission

    Sustainability
    Clear mission and vision
    Diverse board composition
    Local leadership
    Women in leadership
    Youth in leadership
    Coordination with government systems
    Cultural awareness
    Annual strategic plan
    Succession plan

    Relevance
    Baselines and statistical relevance
    Community diagnostic
    Adherence to national, departmental, or municipal development plans
    Community interest and involvement
    Need Not Fulfilled by Public or Private Sector
    Adaptable programming
    Mutually beneficial (community and organization)
    Physical presence in community
    “work yourself out of a job” mentality

    Transparency
    Publicly available 990 tax form / Declaración Anual
    Publicly available annual reports
    Publicly available financial statements
    Publicly available privacy policy
    Publicly available proof of npo 501(c)3/ Guatemala registered status
    Publicly available whistleblower policy
    Publicly available internal/external audit
    Accountability, willingness to provide any additional information to stakeholder upon request

Demographic Indicator Report for all Regions

You can purchase demographic information per indicator for each of the 22 regions of Guatemala. Information Sources are also provided.

This information is collected by volunteers and Data Assistants from official Government Sources.

Once purchased, you will receive an XLS report to your given email

Please see a sample report here for 6 demographic indicators

Regional Demographic Report of all indicators

You can purchase over 100 demographic indicators for your region of choice. Information Sources are also provided.

This information is collected by volunteers and Data Assistants from official Government Sources.

Once purchased, you will receive an XLS report to your given email

Please see a sample report here for 2 regions

Demographic Indicators are:

ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE
ACCESS TO PRENATAL VITAMINS
BIRTHS ATTENDED AT HOME
BIRTHS ATTENDED IN PUBLIC CENTERS
BORROWED OR GIFTED SECONDARY SCHOOL BOOKS
CESARIAN SECTION
COMBINED DIDIN’T PASS FAILURE RATE
COMBINED DROP-OUT FAILURE RATE
COOPERATIVE FOUNDED SCHOOLS
CRIMES AGAINST FREEDOM RATE
DEATH BY CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
DEATH BY DIABETES
DEATH BY DIARRHEA
DEATH BY EXTERNAL CAUSES
DEATH BY HIV/AIDS
DEATH BY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
DEATH BY TUBERCULOSIS
DELINQUENT INJURY RATE
ENROLLED GIRLS AT ALL EDUCATION LEVELS
ENROLLED GIRLS IN HIGH SCHOOL
ENROLLED GIRLS IN MIDLE SCHOOL
ENROLLED GIRLS IN PREPRIMARY SCHOOL
ENROLLED GIRLS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL
ENROLLED WOMEN IN ADULT SCHOOL
ENROLLMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
EXTREME POVERTY RATE
FEMALE DIDIN’T PASS FAILURE RATE
FEMALE DROP-OUT FAILURE RATE
FEMALE DROP-OUT RATE
FEMALE FAILURE RATE
FEMALE FAILURE RATE (DROP-OUT OR DIDN’T PASS)
FEMALE LITERACY RATE
FEMALE PAID EMPLOYEES
FEMALE RELATIVE NO-PASS RATE
FEMALE YEARS OF SCHOOLING
FEMALE-LED SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS
FEMALES WHO DIDN’T PASS & FAILED
FEMALES WHO DROP-OUT & FAILED
FOREST FIRES

FREE PRIMARY SCHOOL BOOKS
GOVERNMENT FUNDED SCHOOLS
GROSS BIRTH RATE
GROSS DEATH RATE
HIGH SCHOOL NET ENROLLMENT RATE
HIGH SCHOOLS
HIGH SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS
HIGH SCHOOLS IN URBAN AREAS
HIGH SCHOOLS WITH SECRETARY CURRICULUM (SECRETARIADO)
HIGH SCHOOLS WITH STANDARD CURRICULUM (BACHILLERATO)
HIGH SCHOOLS WITH TEACHER TRAINING CURRICULUM (MAGISTERIO)
HIGH SCHOOLS WITH TECHNICAL CURRICULUM (PERITO)
HOME WATER ACCESS
HOMES WITHOUT SANTITATION SYSTEMS
HOMICIDE RATE
IMPROVED SANITATION ACCESS
INDIGENOUS POPULATION
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
INTRAFAMILY VIOLENCE RATE
JUDICIAL OFFENSE RATE
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES
MALE & FEMALE COMBINED FAILURE RATE
MALE DIDIN’T PASS FAILURE RATE
MALE DIDN’T PASS
MALE DROP-OUT
MALE DROP-OUT FAILURE RATE
MALE FAILURE RATE
MALE FAILURE RATE (DROP-OUT OR DIDN’T PASS)
MALE LITERACY RATE
MALE RELATIVE DIDN’T PASS
MALE RELATIVE DROP-OUT
MEDICALLY ATTENDED BIRTHS
MIDDLE SCHOOL NET ENROLLMENT RATE
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
MUNICIPAL FOUNDED SCHOOLS

NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS
NUMBER OF LIBRARIES
NUMBER OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
NUMBER OF PREPRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
NUMBER OF SCHOOL STABLISHMENTS
NUMBER OF SCHOOL STUDENTS
PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLD
POPULATION
POPULATION 65+
POPULATION IN URBAN AREAS
POPULATION OF INTERNAL MIGRANTS
POPULATION UNDER 18
POPULATION WITH PERSONAL ID
POTABLE WATER ACCESS
POVERTY RATE
PREPRIMARY NET ENROLLMENT RATE
PREPRIMARY SCHOOLS
PRIMARY LEVEL SCHOOLS FOR ADULTS
PRIMARY SCHOOL NET ENROLLMENT RATE
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
PRIVATE FOUNDED SCHOOLS
RAPE RATE
ROBBERY RATE
SCHOOL STUDENTS
SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS FOREIGN
SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS GARIFUNA
SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS LADINO
SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS MAYA
SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS MIXED
SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS XINCA
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFIT
TIME TO PRIMARY SCHOOL
TIME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT RATE
TOTAL LITERACY RATE
TOTAL YEARS OF SCHOOLING
YOUTH LITERACY RATE
YOUTH YEARS OF SCHOOLING

I want my nonprofit to become a member, is it eligible?

If your organization is deemed eligible according to our criteria you will be able to see that it is eligible on the interactive map by searching the name of the organization and checking it’s status.

If it is eligible, it will be visible on the drop down name menu on the Preliminary Form. From here you can start the membership process with Pionero Philanthropy.

What is Pionero Philanthropy’s Vetting Method?

At Pionero Philanthropy, we incorporate diverse methods of data collection and analysis to provide a more in-depth and culturally competent look at each potential member nonprofit.

Assuming the organization fits our definition of a nonprofit, the vetting and assessment is as follows:

  1. Background Eligibility Research

    Pionero Philanthropy’s performs an in-depth online review of each organization including:

    • Website & social media: We review the organization’s website and social media to identify the organizational documents made publicly available by the nonprofit such as Annual Reports, Financial Statements and Board Member information.
    • News: We perform an online search for the nonprofit to review recent updates on the organization, look particularly for any news concerning unethical behavior.
    • Guatecompras: Guatecompras is the Guatemalan government’s online State Contracting and Procurement Information System. We review this database to identify whether or not the nonprofit has contracts with or received money from the Guatemalan Government.
    • Local community data & statistics: We compare the organization’s programming with local indicators of the community where it is located. This information helps us better understand the work each nonprofit is doing and how it relates to the communities they serve.
  2. Eligibility

    Eligibility parameters allow us to determine if a nonprofit is Eligible for Membership or Non-Eligible for Membership,  a Member, or a Discontinued Member.

    To be eligible for Membership a nonprofit must:

    • Be registered in Guatemala and/or the United States
    • Have a constitution or bylaws providing legal statutes for operation
    • Meet Pionero Philanthropy’s definition of a nonprofit
    • Meet the nano-large size categorization
    • Have a public presence online with recent activity within a 2-year period
    • Have no proven evidence of illegal, fraudulent, corrupt or unethical activity
  3. Preliminary Form

    This form collects basic data on a potential member and is used to determine further eligibility. Information collected include proof of nonprofit status, legal documentation and collection of contact details.

  4. Online Evaluation

    Once we are satisfied with the preliminary information collected, we direct the nonprofit to our Evaluation Portal. Here, the nonprofit will complete 50 questions according to our 5 Pillar Evaluation Criteria. We will identify areas that need verification for the site visit.

  5. Site Visit

    This in-person observation allows us to verify the data collected online. During this visit, Pionero Philanthropy also performs interviews to review the submitted data and fill in any information gaps.

  6. Points Awarded & Continuous Reevaluation

    After the site visit, points, points, seals and awards are granted to the nonprofit. Pionero Philanthropy will re-evaluate members on a continual basis. Upon receiving their first evaluation and familiarizing themselves with the definitions of the pillars, we expect nonprofits to adopt practices which will result in the improvement of future evaluation scores. This encourages nonprofits to improve through the performance of academically supported best practices.

How Does Pionero Philanthropy Define “Nonprofit Organization”?

Each government has different requirements to determine eligibility and legal registration of nonprofit organizations. In the United States, organizations receive 501(c)3 nonprofit status based on a definition provided by the IRS. In Guatemala, organizations receive either Guatemalan Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status or Guatemalan Association status based on definitions provided by the Guatemalan Congress.
In order to create a standard across these contexts, Pionero Philanthropy uses the following definition.

 

“non-profit organizations are established with the aim of providing public services to communities where they operate, making them as an intermediary between citizens and authorities” Ciucescu, 2009

And that:

  • The primary function is the elimination of social problems or the suffering caused by social problems.
  • The purpose is to meet public needs, for the common good.
  • There is limited political involvement and no advancement of private political interests.
  • Faith-based organizations work for social good not for the advancement of their religion.
  • The mission must be for public benefit, not organized or operated for the benefit of any private interest.
  • Profits must be used for charitable activities, net earnings may not benefit any private shareholder or an individual.

Pionero Philanthropy’s Philosophy Of Nonprofit Evaluation

There are certain things that Pionero Philanthropy wants our member nonprofits to be absolutely sure of. In order to follow the nonprofit value of doing no harm, we have created a philosophy surrounding our 5 Pillar Evaluation system and scores.

No Comparisons

Pionero Philanthropy does not use the 5 Pillar Evaluation score to compare member nonprofit organizations to one another. Pionero Philanthropy understands that nonprofit organizations exist at many different levels of nonprofit management capability and that this is very dependent on a number of circumstances.
We do not expect members to have an immediate score of 100, in fact we expect very few nonprofits to receive a Seal of Excellence at the beginning of our evaluation. Pionero Philanthropy itself does not have a perfect score at this point in time. This is not a tool to compare organizations to one another but to assist in nonprofit management improvements. Organizations with higher ranks will not be treated differently than those without a Seal of Excellence.

No Judgment

Pionero Philanthropy does not judge member organizations based on their 5 Pillar Evaluation score. Pionero Philanthropy is proud of every member nonprofit and feels they are truly noteworthy organizations, as represented by their Partner Seals.

This evaluation system is not created to condone those who do not receive a Seal of Excellence, nor to only recommend donor relationships with nonprofits with a Seal of Excellence. We believe the ranking of Seals will allow donors to see the nonprofit management capabilities that exist in Guatemala and allow donors to assist in capacity building of nonprofits which we promote.

Continuous Re-evaluation

Pionero Philanthropy will re-evaluate members on a continual basis. Upon receiving their first evaluation and familiarizing themselves with the definitions of the pillars, we expect nonprofits to adopt or adapt practices which will result in the improvement of future evaluation scores. This encourages nonprofits to improve through the performance of academically supported best practices.

Public Comment From Member Nonprofits

Pionero Philanthropy wants to provide the opportunity for each member nonprofit to comment on their 5 Pillar Evaluation score. This comment will be left unedited allowing members to provide opinions on the scoring system, insights into their individual scores, hopes for the future improvement of their scores, etc.

I can’t find the organization I work with on your map, help!

In this unlikely situation, please contact us at info@pionerophilanthropy.org with as many legal documents as possible so we can verify your eligibility status.

Membership Parameters

To help us sort through nonprofits and to identify membership status, Pionero Philanthropy has created a system of parameters. These parameters allow us to determine if a nonprofit is either:

  • Eligible for Membership
  • Non-Eligible for Membership
  • A Member
  • A Discontinued Member.

These are defined as follows:

Eligible

To be eligible for Membership a nonprofit must:

  • Be registered in Guatemala and/or the United States
  • Have a constitution or bylaws providing legal statutes for operation
  • Meet Pionero Philanthropy’s definition of a nonprofit
  • Meet the nano-large size categorization
  • Have a public presence online with recent activity within a 2 year period 
  • Have no proven evidence of illegal, fraudulent, corrupt or unethical activity

Non-Eligible

  • A nonprofit that does not meet the requirements for eligibility is immediately categorized as ineligible. 

 

  • In nonmember reports there will be a reason given for the Ineligibility of the organization. They may be for the following reasons:
    • Insufficient public information – ie no online presence to indicate the organization is operational.
    • Recent activity exceeds parameters (2 years) – ie no online activity for the last 2 years – presumed inactive.
    • Exceeds annual budget limit ($2 million) – nonprofit is deemed too large in budget to be considered for membership
    • Lack of communication (Discontinued Member only)
    • Closed
    • Non-eligible (corruption or other issues)

 

  • Non-eligibility status may be reconsidered in the future. If any nonprofit has doubts about their non-eligibility status, please contact Pionero Philanthropy.

A Member

To form and maintain a membership an eligible nonprofit must:

  • Maintain all eligibility requirements
  • Complete all preliminary forms, evaluations, and site visits
  • Provide all requested documents
  • Annually update all information with Pionero Philanthropy
  • Have values that align with Pionero Philanthropy
  • Maintain good communication with Pionero Philanthropy (ie. timely, honest and respectful)
  • Maintain a positive status and reputation within the community

Discontinued Membership

A member may be discontinued if they cannot maintain the membership parameters. Discontinued status may be reconsidered in the future. If any nonprofit has doubts about their discontinued membership status, please contact Pionero Philanthropy.


Can’t find your organization on our eligibility list?

If you can’t find your organization on our eligibility list drop down and you are certain that your fulfill all the eligibility criteria outlined above, please contact us at info@pionerophilanthropy.org and send as many legal registration documents as possible so we can verify your eligibility status.

If satisfied, we will be in touch with further details so you can start the membership process.

I can’t find the organization I work with on your map, help!

In this unlikely situation, please contact us at info@pionerophilanthropy.org with as many legal documents as possible so we can verify your eligibility status.

Our Theme Areas

Pionero Philanthropy categorizes Guatemalan nonprofits into 9 crucial theme areas, based on their missions and work. Pionero allocates up to 3 theme areas per nonprofit organization.

  1. EDUCATION – Guatemalans receive an average of 4.28 years of education.
  2. HEALTH – Guatemala’s chronic child malnutrition rate is 46.5% for children under 5 years of age, the highest rate in the region, and the 5th highest worldwide.
  3. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – Guatemala’s poverty rate increased from 45.6%  to 47% in 2020
  4. YOUTH & CHILDREN6.3% of children aged 7-14 years old reported having to work in Guatemala. 3.5% reported combining work with school.
  5. WOMEN & GIRLS – 30% of Guatemalan girls are married by the time they are 18, and 6% are married by the age of 15.
  6. ANIMAL WELFARE – In 2017, Guatemalan approved the first-ever animal welfare law with the support of the Humane Society International. However, the country continues to experience a lack of enforcement.
  7. HUMAN RIGHTS – More than 80% of the indigenous population lives under conditions of multidimensional poverty, meaning they suffer various deprivations associated with poverty such as lack of education, poor health, violence and dangerous living conditions.
  8. SECURITY – Guatemala has the 3rd highest rate of femicide worldwide. Historically, Guatemala has been considered one of the most dangerous countries in Central America and the world. This can be attributed to gang-related violence, narco-trafficking activity, and a failing police/ judicial system.
  9. ENVIRONMENT – Guatemala is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world and is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Size Targets of Member Nonprofits

Pionero Philanthropy Nonprofit Size InfographicNonprofit size is measured by the annual budget of nonprofit organizations. Improving upon pre-established definitions of nonprofit size by the United States IRS, Pionero Philanthropy has redefined a nonprofit size scale to provide more visibility to low budget nonprofits with the inclusion of a nano nonprofit category.
We aim to provide philanthropic support and assistance where it is most relevant and help support small nonprofits in Guatemala. This led to the creation of Pionero Philanthropy’s target member distribution.
Our size scale and target member distribution are shown in the diagram to the left.
Pionero Philanthropy strives to apply our methodology to a larger number of Guatemalan Registered organizations (Associations & NGOs) than to 501(c)3 registered organizations. As 501(c)3 organizations tend to receive more publicity in the United States, we hope to shine a light on those who have not been previously publicly evaluated for the United States philanthropic sector.
As donations to Guatemalan registered organizations do not provide tax benefits in the United States, Pionero Philanthropy acts as a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor to provide our Guatemalan registered member nonprofits access to this large scale funding source.
Pionero Philanthropy’s Target Partner Registration Distribution:

  • Guatemalan Registered Associations/NGOs Target- 75% of total members
  • Organizations registered as a US 501(c)3 & a Guatemalan Association/ NGO Target- 20% of total members

US Registered 501(c)3 organizations working in Guatemala Target- 5% of total members

I can’t find the organization I work with on your map, help!

In this unlikely situation, please contact us at info@pionerophilanthropy.org with as many legal documents as possible so we can verify your eligibility status.

How long does the preliminary form take?

This is a relatively simple form and should take between 5 to 10 minutes presuming you have all your legal documents to upload. Click here to access it.

I can’t find the nonprofit I work with on the preliminary form, Help!

If you can’t find your organization in the drop down of the preliminary form, this is because it either is deemed ineligible according to Pionero Philanthropy’s eligibility criteria, or that your organization has not yet been included in our database.

If you believe your organization is eligible for membership, please contact us at info@pionerophilanthropy.org with as many legal registration documents as possible so we can verify your eligibility status.

What happens once I submit the Preliminary Form?

Once you submit your preliminary application, you will receive an email (those given in the form) saying that we have received it. We will be in touch with you confirming whether we have accepted or rejected it based on your answers.

If accepted, you will receive an additional email with a log in to complete your evaluation online.

If rejected, you will receive an email explaining why we rejected the application and what you can do to rectify the situation.

What is the Evaluation Methodology based on?

Once we’ve collected all necessary data on a potential member nonprofit from our online research, preliminary form, site visit , we perform our 5 Pillar Evaluation.

 

The 5 Pillar Evaluation is based on 50 academically supported best practices in the five key pillars of nonprofit management: Sustainability, Transparency, Impact, Relevance, and Efficiency. This evaluation process is required for a nonprofit to receive and maintain membership status with Pionero Philanthropy. The 5 Pillar Evaluation utilizes a scoring system to evaluate how our nonprofit members are performing.

 

Each pillar includes 10 best practices within the field of nonprofit management. Each practice is worth two points, resulting in an individual pillar score out of 20 and a total evaluation score out of 100.

 

The Evaluation is performed through an online evaluation portal where the nonprofit will need to provide information and evidence for each indicator in each pillar.

 

Once the evaluation is submitted online, Pionero will then perform a prescoring and allocate preliminary scores and then highlight areas that need verification during the site visit.

The findings and results from the evaluation are used to assist our member nonprofits in improving their management practices, not for comparison purposes or shaming an organization.

Pionero Pihlanthropy Evaluation Pillar Sustainability

We define sustainability as a nonprofit’s ability to keep their function, survive, and accomplish its mission in the long term. This pillar is composed of the following best practices:

  • Coordination with government systems
  • Cultural awareness/Competency
  • Annual strategic plan
  • 3-5 year strategic plan
  • A succession plan
  • Clear mission and vision
  • Diverse board composition
  • Local leadership
  • Women in leadership
  • Youth in leadership
Pionero Pihlanthropy Evaluation Pillar Efficiency

We define efficiency as a measure of how a nonprofit’s inputs of economic resources such as funds, expertise, time, and equipment are converted into results. Pionero Philanthropy has broadened the traditional analysis of efficiency in order to better gauge financial health. This pillar is composed of the following best practices:

  • All financial numbers reported and maintained up-to-date
  • Average, or better than average, liquidity ratios
  • Average, or better than average, funding ratios
  • Average, or better than average, operating ratios
  • Average, or better than average, financial health ratios
  • High Social Return on Investment/ Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis
  • Performs internal ratios and analyses
  • No signs of financial fraud or corruptions
  • Generates positive revenue to further their mission
Pionero Pihlanthropy Evaluation Pillar Transparency

Transparency is defined as a nonprofit’s honesty and openness when it comes to the organization’s administration and finances. Pionero Philanthropy believes that transparency requires accurate, complete, and timely information in order to maintain credibility and eliminate the probability of fraud or corruption. This pillar is composed of the following best practices:

  • Publicly available 990 Tax Form online (if US nonprofit)
  • Publicly available Annual Reports online
  • Publicly available Financial Statements online
  • Publicly available Board Members online
  • Publicly available Privacy Policy online
  • Publicly available proof of 501(c)3 nonprofit & EIN/Guatemalan registered status online
  • Publicly available Conflict of Interest Policy online
  • Publicly available Whistleblower Policy online
  • Publicly available internal/external audit online
  • Disclosure, willingness to provide any additional information to stakeholder upon request
Pionero Pihlanthropy Evaluation Pillar Relevance

Relevance is defined by Pionero Philanthropy as a nonprofit’s ability to align its mission and programming with what is needed, what matters, and what is deemed as important in Guatemalan communities. This pillar is composed of the following best practices:

  • Community baseline statistics
  • Community diagnostic
  • Adherence to national, regional, or municipal development plans
  • Community engagement, interest, and involvement
  • Need Not Fulfilled by Public or Private Sector
  • Collaboration with Other Institutions or Organizations
  • Adaptable programming
  • Mutual benefit
  • Physical presence in community
  • A “work yourself out of a job” mentality/ Nonprofit dissolution
Pionero Pihlanthropy Evaluation Pillar Impact

Pionero Philanthropy defines impact as a nonprofit’s influence on positive change within the Guatemalan context. This pillar is composed of the following best practices:

  • Development of a Theory of Change or Logic Mode
  • Monitoring and evaluation of output indicators
  • Monitoring and evaluation of outcome indicators
  • Participant feedback/accounts of change
  • Benchmarks and comparisons
  • Nonprofit Accountability with Stakeholders
  • Contributes to public knowledge on nonprofit theme
  • Volunteer/ donor retention
  • Historical data collection
  • Long term benefits

How long does it take to complete the Evaluation?

It depends! If your organization is familiar with other evaluation or certification processes you might already have everything you need and it could take you as little as a couple of hours. However, if your organization is fairly new, the tricky part will be to gather all the documents and information you need. That could take a couple of days. But no worries!

What documents do we need?

As you complete the evaluation, you will want to have another tab open with your organization’s website or social media pages, from where you will gather information, and evidence such as pictures and official statements. We will also ask for:

  • your organization’s constitution; 
  • official registration documents with the IRS (if registered in the U.S.) or the Guatemalan government; 
  • financial statements; 
  • proof of your programs, 
  • strategic plans; 
  • as well as other indicators of impact.

It may sound like a lot, but we understand each organization it’s at a different stage of development, you do not have to have every one of these documents to complete the evaluation. Every practice provides a text box where you can state if you are currently in the process of producing said documents.

What if we don’t have a particular document?

At Pionero Philanthropy we understand each organization it’s at a different stage of development, you do not have to have every single document to complete the evaluation. Each practice provides a text box in which you can state if you are currently in the process of producing said documents.

Our organization does not have any of the documents for one of the sections, what can we do?

Try to complete as much as you can by answering all the questions or providing explanations as to why you are missing some documents. We will evaluate your application and contact you to let you know if we can move forward with the in-person visit, or if you should try to gather more information or wait until your organization grows to member up with Pionero.

Is there a minimum score an organization should receive to become members with Pionero Philanthropy?

That’s the beauty of it, absolutely not. As long as your organization fits the eligibility criteria, and finishes the evaluation process, you can member up with Pionero.
You can retake the evaluation to get a better score or aim for the Gold Seal, or earn more Pionero Awards. Click here to learn more about our seals and awards.

We are a very small nonprofit, is it worth doing the evaluation?

Absolutely! Even if you are a small nonprofit but you fit the eligibility criteria, membering with Pionero has great benefits. And as your organization gets bigger, we will update that information in our map and our database.

Is there a time limit for an organization to complete the evaluation?

No time limit, take your time. However, we are unable to call your organization a nonprofit member until you have finished the evaluation process and had the visit.

How many times can we do the evaluation?

After the first evaluation and finalizing our membership, each organization can update their information as often as they like however we ask nonprofit organizations to update their information at least once a year in order to maintain your membership status with Pionero Philanthropy.

Member Seals of Excellence

Once Pionero Philanthropy has completed our 5 Pillar Evaluation and determined a final score for our member nonprofit, we award Seals of Excellence and Awards based on our findings. These are not used for comparison, but rather to motivate the member nonprofit to improve and reward them as they reach their goals.

Pionero Philanthropy Partner Seal

Any organization that meets all parameters and becomes our nonprofit member, automatically receives a Pionero Partner Seal. By completing our membership process, Pionero Philanthropy feels confident in representing the nonprofit and promoting them to donors. The Pionero Partner Seal signifies a truly noteworthy nonprofit.

Pionero Bronze Seal Of Excellence

Any nonprofit organization that receives a Pionero Partner Seal and a 5 Pillar Evaluation score of 70-79 points is awarded the Pionero Philanthropy Bronze Seal of Excellence. These nonprofits are on the right track. They are familiar with best practices of nonprofit management and are working towards excellence!

Pionero Silver Seal Of Excellence

Any nonprofit organization that receives a Pionero Partner Seal and a 5 Pillar Evaluation score of 80-89 points is awarded Pionero Philanthropy’s Silver Seal of Excellence. These nonprofits are making strides to perform the best practices in each of Pionero Philanthropy’s 5 pillars. They have high management capabilities.

Pionero Gold Seal Of Excellence

2 Pathways to Gold
We reward, encourage, and promote not only the organizations that are already high performers, but also those that are making consistent progress. For this reason, we award organizations with a Gold Seal for Progress and/or Outstanding Achievement:

Member Awards

Awards are Pionero Philanthropy’s way of recognizing nonprofits that have distinguished themselves in important aspects of their organization.

To receive these awards, your organization must score 2 out of 2 in several practices:

  • Women in leadership
  • Local leadership
  • Community interest & involment
  • Physical presence in community
  • Cultural awareness
  • Local leadership
  • Women in leadership
  • Local leadership
  • Youth in leadership
  • Board diversity

What should we expect from the in-person visit?

The purpose of the in-person visit is to get to know all of our member organizations and their personnel. During the visit we will try to verify that all the information you provided during the evaluation is accurate and up-to-date. While we won’t go through the entire evaluation again, we will choose a few practices at random to verify during the visit. The visit won’t be a surprise. Once you complete the evaluation, we will contact you and try to schedule the visit, and give you more information so that you are prepared.

Our organization does not have offices, how can we do the in-person visit?

No problem! We can do the in-person visit in one of the locations where you conduct your programs.

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Donate your time & skills

Whether you want to volunteer, intern, or join our US or Guatemalan board, Pionero Philanthropy is always seeking assistance from those who believe in our mission.

Website Volunteering / Internships 

We are always needing remote support from enthusiastic individuals in the following areas:

  • SEO – Assistance in optimizing our site for SEO is a must for Pionero so we can reach the right audiences.
  • UI/ UX – If you are good at coding and have experience in either Mysql, HTML, Javascript and/or WordPress, let us know! We always want our data assets and platforms to be as optimized and accessible as possible for information seekers and nonprofits.
  • Blog Writing – For budding writers who can express themselves clearly with knowledge in SEO requirements, this role is for you.
  • Data Entry –  We always have work to do to update and improve our database of nonprofits. This role is remote and requires internet and google sheets skills.

Research Partnership Program

We partner with academic individuals and institutions to conduct research in the field of philanthropy and/or nonprofit management. Propose your own research topic or help us investigate a predetermined theme!

 

Individuals:
Pionero Philanthropy is happy to assist students with their completion of academic course credit through a research opportunity and can coordinate directly with academic advisors to ensure open communication and a delivery plan.

For individuals not in need of academic course credit, Pionero Philanthropy’s Research Partnership Program provides the perfect opportunity for resume building.

 

Institutions:
Pionero Philanthropy partners directly with the institutions themselves. Pionero Philanthropy currently acts as a partner in the Connect Program at the University of Texas at Austin’s RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service through the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

Research Intern Tasks:

  • Literature review
  • Writing and editing
  • Data collection
  • Presentation of research

 

Data Analysis Intern Tasks:

  • Data entry, organization, and maintenance
  • Analysis of data
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Data visualization

Board of Directors

Pionero Philanthropy is seeking a larger, active, and committed board to engage the US audience in order for the organization to become more impactful and financially sustainable.

We are seeking candidates with any of the following skillsets:

  • Grants Development
  • Academic & Research Partnerships
  • Sales
  • Financial
  • Legal
  • SEO / Marketing / PR

 

To inquire for all positions:
Contact us at info@pionerophilanthropy.org. Inquiries are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Donate money

Pionero Philanthropy is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit, and, as such, we also need support!

We are a small start-up nonprofit assessment organization that has been operating since 2017 conducting research, evaluating and supporting Guatemalan nonprofits, and collating data.

Pionero Philanthropy needs funds to support our operations and continue connecting people to great causes and creating lasting, meaningful outcomes.

Make a tax-deductible donation to Pionero Philanthropy, or contact us for information on how you can support our work with in-kind donations.

I want to volunteer for a nonprofit, can you help me?

We don’t assist, link or place volunteers with nonprofits other than Pionero Philanthropy itself however if you are interested in volunteering, we recommend that you connect with Buena Onda.

Buena Onda will guide you through the entire volunteering process and place you with some outstanding nonprofits in Guatemala.

I forgot my username and password, how do I recover my application?

On the sign in page click on Forgot my password, and we will send you an email with new login credentials.