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An Interview with Angie Holzer, CEO & Founder of WikiCharities

  • Writer: Great Companies
    Great Companies
  • May 19
  • 3 min read

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business?

Angie Holzer: The idea for WikiCharities came directly from my doctoral research, where I studied the challenges nonprofits face when trying to collaborate. I found that lack of trust, competition for funding, and not knowing who else is in their space were the top barriers. At the same time, I saw a major gap—people in need, including victims of human trafficking, often don’t know which services are available in their communities.


This inspired the creation of a global, searchable database for nonprofits, where organizations could increase transparency, connect with each other, and serve people more effectively. WikiCharities was born out of the belief that we can achieve better outcomes through better connections.


Great Companies: What are the various services provided by WikiCharities?

Angie Holzer: WikiCharities offers several core services:

  • Global Nonprofit Database: Searchable by name, topic, and location, with over 2.1 million listings.

  • Nonprofit Webpages: Featuring leadership, financials, and impact reporting for transparency.

  • Validation System: Enhancing trust and access to funding and partnerships.

  • 0% Fee Donation Tool: Allows direct financial support to nonprofits.

  • Upcoming Data Portal: Advanced insights for researchers, foundations, and universities.

  • Journal of Nonprofit Innovation: A peer-reviewed publication linking research to practical nonprofit work.

  • Educational Tools and Training Programs: To help nonprofits grow and scale their impact.

  • AI-powered Tools (in development): To support data analysis, strategic planning, and sustainable funding.





Great Companies: What makes WikiCharities different from hundreds of other similar service providers?

Angie Holzer: WikiCharities is the first and only global nonprofit platform of its kind. While other platforms typically focus on large, national organizations, we support nonprofits of all sizes, especially the small organizations that make up over 80% of the sector.

Key differentiators include:

  • Global Reach

  • Open-Access and Transparency-Driven

  • Interactive Map-Based Search Tool

  • Credibility Through Validation

  • Collaborations with Universities and Researchers


We focus on trust, collaboration, and local-global impact—something no other platform in the nonprofit space currently offers.


Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Angie Holzer: One of our biggest challenges was securing funding for such a bold and global vision. Traditional funders were often hesitant to support system-changing ideas. We overcame this by building strong relationships with smaller funders who shared our mission, and by leveraging a network of volunteers and experts passionate about our cause.


Another key challenge was convincing nonprofits—especially smaller ones—of the value of transparency and validation. We tackled this by partnering with foundations and companies that now encourage or require WikiCharities validation, creating trust and stronger incentives.


We’re also adopting a localized approach to global growth by collaborating with regional funders who understand their community’s needs, ensuring deeper engagement and sustainability.


Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for WikiCharities?

Angie Holzer: In the next five years, our vision includes:

  • Expanding from 2.1 million to 10 million nonprofits in our global database

  • Launching country-specific and cause-specific pilot programs

  • Scaling our $1 validation program into a global standard

  • Deploying AI tools to help nonprofits operate more efficiently and sustainably

  • Creating diverse revenue streams for long-term resilience


We aim to become the world’s most trusted platform for nonprofit data, validation, research, and cross-sector collaboration.


Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Angie Holzer: Start with a clear purpose and stay close to the problem you’re solving. Build something that truly fills a gap and serves others. Don’t wait for perfection—start small and evolve. Most importantly, build trust—with your users, your team, and your partners. That’s the foundation for lasting impact and meaningful growth.


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