If you're writing about non-profits that claim to comfort the afflicted, you first might want to make sure the groups themselves aren't getting too comfortable with their donors' money.
Try searching GuideStar.org, a national database of more than 850,000 nonprofits around the country, including universities and religious organizations.
The site is a treasure-chest of charitable information, and buried beneath the gems is solid gold: completed IRS Form 990s, the financial return forms that charities are required to file with the Internal Revenue Service. These forms contain revenue and spending information -- including the salaries of the five highest-paid employees.
Guide Star is also a great way to find sources. The advanced search page lets you search for groups that specialize in anything from addiction to zoos -- and to do so by city or zip code, so you can find data and contact information for agencies in your news market.
And once you've finished writing your award-winning expose, GuideStar will help you choose a worthy charity for your big prize money.
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