The Recipient Vetting Standard
F.I.G.S.
Four pillars. One binary judgment. The gateway that gates the Pre-Approved Recipient List at Xerish Storehouse — so every organization a Donor Advisor sees in the app is one they can trust.
Association is verification. If an organization is on Xerish, it has passed F.I.G.S. No per-org badge. No tier. The list itself is the credential.
Pass · Fail · Needs more information. No numeric score.
Faith
Consistent. Loyal. Showing up for the struggling when no one is watching. Faithful organizations do not disappear when funding slows.
— Lamentations 3:22–23
Integrity
Pure of heart, right in practice. We examine what an organization does when no one is looking — because integrity is what is done, not what is declared.
— Proverbs 10:9
Generosity
Love in action. Cheerful, not compelled. Organizations on the Pre-Approved Recipient List exist to serve — embodying the posture of Christ, who gave everything.
— 2 Corinthians 9:7
Stewardship
Intentional. Active. Courageous. The parable of the talents is the model. Active deployment, transparent reporting, faith-driven risk.
— Matthew 25:14–30
The Vetting Workflow
How an organization gets on the Pre-Approved Recipient List.
F.I.G.S. is operationalized as the board-approved Recipient Vetting Policy of Xerish Storehouse. Every organization on the Pre-Approved Recipient List passes the same five-step workflow.
Application
A 501(c)(3) organization applies through /apply. They submit IRS determination letter, governance documents, doctrinal statement (where applicable), recent financials, and a narrative on how they live each pillar.
Verification
Xerish Storehouse staff verify IRS good standing, board structure, basic financial health, and any flags (revocation list, news searches, donor complaints).
F.I.G.S. Review
Trained reviewers assess each pillar against the published Recipient Vetting Policy. Each pillar is a binary judgment — pass, fail, or "needs more information." No numeric scoring.
Decision
All four pillars must clear for placement on the Pre-Approved Recipient List. A "needs more information" outcome triggers a written request to the applicant; they may respond and be reassessed. A clear fail closes the application with a written explanation.
Annual Reaffirmation
Approved recipients reaffirm F.I.G.S. annually and on material change (leadership transition, financial restatement, doctrinal change). Suspension or removal follows any failed reaffirmation.
The Binary Discipline
No score. No tier. No gradient.
A score creates the illusion of precision and licenses comparison shopping between worthy organizations. F.I.G.S. refuses both. Each pillar is a yes or a not-yet. Each organization is on the list or not. The judgment is the judgment.
Apply to join the Pre-Approved Recipient List.
501(c)(3) organizations and qualifying churches: the application is the start of the F.I.G.S. review. Free forever to participate.