How our points system works

How We Evaluate Transparency

Transparency is an ever-evolving and dynamic quality, and assigning values to different transparency indicators is subjective. Our point system is carefully designed to encourage and empower CSOs, rather than impose penalties, fostering an environment of continuous growth and improvement.

We evaluate our users' websites through a rigorous process, following the highest national (Brazilian) transparency laws and universal best practices. In this sense, we apply two types of evaluations:

Transparency Points and Country-Based Classification

1. Regarding Brazil, we assign and calculate transparency points based on the CSOs’ experience in complying with the Brazilian government. This reflects a CSO’s alignment with the transparency and compliance laws currently enforced by the government. In practice, this approach forms a ranking that considers the compliance context of Brazilian laws. The points assigned to each item may vary depending on how government authorities interpret the rules, which, in turn, can impact the score we assign to that item.

• In addition to viewing your points, you will always see the percentage of points obtained. This determines your status: 0–69% = in progress, 70–89% = good, 90–100% = excellent.
  If a government issues additional requirements, we update the point totals and percentages and notify you of the changes you need to make to earn the new points.

Transparency Points and Global Classification

2. Thinking globally, we count a CSO’s points by considering these official points as well as items we believe are universally important for transparency and fundraising capacity. We combine these points as follows:

• For each country requirement, we assign 1 to 5 points, from least to most important. Sometimes, the number we assign matches the government's score—sometimes it doesn’t. For example, the Brazilian government assigned a ‘1’ to the publication of bylaws, but we assign it a ‘3.’ Or there may be a situation where something is required of a CSO that we do not believe is necessary for transparency; in such cases, we do not assign any points to that item.
• We also assign 1 to 5 points for each item we consider important that is not included in the country’s requirements. For example, there are items under ‘security and privacy’ that we include in our global assessment which the Brazilian government does not. We also add items as they become best practices or important for fundraising capacity. This gives us flexibility in developing a universal approach to transparency.
• As we strive for continuous improvement and synergy, we may add items to our global scoring system based on what we learn from country-specific requirements.
• In addition to seeing your global points, you will always see the percentage of points you have obtained. This is the basis of your ranking: 0–69% = in progress, 70–89% = good, 90–100% = excellent.

Transparency Points and Classification Badge

When a CSO becomes a client and publishes its website, it receives a badge indicating that its journey toward transparency is underway.

As it meets more transparency requirements, its points are recalculated, and when they reach the "good" and "excellent" point thresholds, its badge is automatically updated to reflect its new status.

Our badge is embedded in the website footer and includes a link to Impactodo’s website, where its classification and profile are maintained on our "Portfolio" page.