Introducing the 2026 Candid Seals of Transparency

We’re excited to announce that the 2026 Candid Seals of Transparency are here. This year, we’ve made it easier than ever for nonprofits to demonstrate credibility by sharing information—and unlock greater visibility, donations, and supporter engagement.

Nonprofits can earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Seal of Transparency depending on how much information they provide on their Candid profiles—including mission, donation information, program information, financial reports or IRS filings, and/or leadership and board demographics.

Seals of Transparency help nonprofits raise more money

It’s quick and easy to earn a Seal of Transparency, and the time you put into your Candid nonprofit profile pays off. Our research shows that nonprofits with a Seal receive, on average, 62% more in donor contributions than organizations without a Seal.

The takeaway is clear: When donors can easily access information about a nonprofit, they’re more likely to give.

What’s new for 2026 Candid Seals of Transparency

We’ve updated this year’s Seals based directly on feedback from nonprofit staff—to save you time and make it easier to add information to earn or renew a Seal or upgrade to a higher-level Seal.

1. A faster, easier way to renew or upgrade your Seal

• If your organization earned a Seal in 2025, upgrading to a 2026 Seal is now simpler than ever. Just log in, review the fields in your nonprofit profile for accuracy and add recent data as needed, and click “Publish.” Your 2026 Seal will be displayed on your profile.

2. Streamlined steps for updating your profile

• An interactive checklist: See exactly what you need to complete at each Seal level—Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. This step-by-step guide keeps things organized, even if multiple team members are involved.
• Improved sections: In the People and Programs sections, your work saves automatically as you go, so you don’t lose work and can update your profile more easily over time.

3. A one-and-done way to display your impact

• We made sure more people can access your full profile without friction. Once you earn a Seal, add your Seal web widget—which links directly to your full profile—to your site once, and it will automatically update as you earn new Seals.

Even more benefits of earning a Seal

Earning a Seal unlocks a suite of benefits that help you reach more donors and build your digital presence:

• Sharable full profile link: Give supporters free, unlimited access to your Candid profile, no login required.
• Social media toolkit: Show off your Seal with logos customized for various social channels, sample copy, and tips for sharing on socials, email, and more.
• Donations with Apple Pay: All Seal holders are eligible to receive donations with Apple Pay.
• Special offer for small nonprofits: Nonprofits with under $1 million in annual revenue or expenses receive a free year of access to Candid Premium when they earn a Gold Seal.

How to earn 2026 Candid Seals of Transparency

Every U.S. nonprofit—regardless of size, mission, or budget—can benefit from claiming their Candid profile and earning a Seal of Transparency. If you’re new to Seals, now is the perfect time to earn one by demonstrating transparency and showcasing your work—and getting in front of potential donors. Here’s how to get your 2026 Seal of Transparency. Log in to your Candid nonprofit profile. If you haven’t claimed your profile, get started here.

1. Use the interactive checklist to review the required fields.
2. Click “Publish” to earn your 2026 Seal of Transparency!

Make the most of your Seal

Once you earn your 2026 Seal, put it to work to enhance visibility and boost fundraising:

• Share your full profile link in donor outreach, on social media, anywhere your supporters can find you.
• Feature your Seal and link to your profile from your website with the improved web widget.
• Show off on social media with your outreach toolkit.
• Keep your profile updated throughout the year so potential donors always have accurate information.

Your up-to-date Candid profile and 2026 Seals of Transparency ensure that potential donors can find you and stay connected with your work. Your nonprofit does impactful work; make sure funders see that impact by earning a 2026 Seal of Transparency today.