The Samaritan Award and Guide

Visit the Samaritan Guide

Private charities do demanding and heroic work for vulnerable people. We seek to reward their good work with prizes and publicity.

The Samaritan Guide

The Samaritan Guide encourages effective charity within the United States by providing information on nonprofits that are supported primarily by private donations. Every charity that applies for the Samaritan Award is included in the Samaritan Guide.

This online guide provides detailed information on hundreds of private charities around the country. This unique resource is intended to be a reference for charities and donors alike, encouraging good practices and prudent investments.

The Samaritan Award

The Samaritan Award is given to a highly successful, privately funded charity whose work is direct, personal, and accountable. It’s purpose is to encourage charities who, like the Good Samaritan, get intimately involved with each individual, discover the right solutions, and then work determinedly to transform lives.

All entrants for the Samaritan Award fill out a comprehensive application which is scored for the following criteria:

1. how well the program fosters personal change in the individuals served;
2. how well the program evaluates outcomes or results;
3. to what extent spirituality is incorporated into programming; and
4. how well the program implements Marvin Olasky’s seven “principles of effective compassion.”