The New York Philanthropic Advisory Service (NYPAS), founded in 1986, is a program of the Education & Research Foundation of the Metropolitan New York Better Business Bureau, which serves New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson Region.
According to NYPAS, its mission is to promote public confidence in local charities and encourage charitable giving. NYPAS aims to provide the public with information on specific charities and giving practices, and to advise charities on how to meet and maintain ethical standards of operation.
NYPAS produces reports on New York charities, using the 20 National Standards for Charity Accountability of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. These standards focus on four areas of nonprofit management: Governance, Measuring Effectiveness, Finances, and Fundraising & Informational Materials.
Based on financial statements, tax filings, annual reports, and other materials, NYPAS determines whether a charity meets the Standards. The report produced is then published online in the New York Giving Guide. The reports are confined to areas of a charity's operation that can be quantitatively assessed.