FAQ

Questions before you start.

NAS reports are designed to support better decisions for nonprofits, partners, and funders. Here are the most common questions about reports, pricing, confidentiality, methodology, and limitations.

General

About NAS

What is NAS?

Nonprofit Advisory Studio provides structured fundability assessments for nonprofits, partners, and funders. Reports are practitioner-reviewed and supported by the NAS Analytical Framework.

Is NAS a charity rating agency?

No. NAS is not a public charity rating agency. NAS reports are private decision-support tools.

Does NAS guarantee funding?

No. NAS does not guarantee grants, donations, investment, or fundraising outcomes.

Is this legal, audit, accounting, investment, or fiduciary advice?

No. NAS reports are analytical tools and do not replace professional advice or organizational judgment.

How does NAS use AI?

NAS uses structured data extraction and analytical support tools, but reports are practitioner-reviewed. The model supports the process. The practitioner decides.

Nonprofits

For nonprofit organizations

What does SignalPoint™ show?

SignalPoint™ provides a fast fundability snapshot across the NAS dimensions, including strengths, watch items, and immediate action priorities.

What does VantageEdge™ add?

VantageEdge™ provides deeper narrative analysis, financial trend review, governance and trust signal review, public credibility assessment, and prioritized recommendations.

Will funders see my nonprofit report?

No. Reports ordered by nonprofit accounts are delivered to the nonprofit account. You decide whether to share them.

What documents do we need?

SignalPoint™ can begin with public data when available. VantageEdge™ is stronger when audited financials, recent budgets, program information, fundraising materials, and governance information are available.

Partners

For advisors and partners

Who qualifies as a NAS Partner?

The Partner pathway is designed for anyone who works with nonprofits in a professional advisory capacity — including management consultants, fundraising advisors, capacity-building consultants, executive search and placement firms, board recruiters, strategic planning facilitators, grant writers, interim executives, and other trusted intermediaries. If your work involves assessing, advising, or supporting nonprofit organizations on behalf of clients, this is your path.

I'm a board member of a nonprofit. Which path do I use?

It depends on your email address, not your role. If you're requesting a report through an account registered with your organization's own domain — for example, yourname@theorg.org — the nonprofit path applies and the first SignalPoint™ may be free. If you are using a personal address (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook), a corporate email, a law firm address, or any other non-organization domain, you follow the Partner pathway and standard paid pricing applies. NAS does not adjudicate internal board authority or verify who holds what role inside an organization. The account email domain determines the path.

Does NAS contact my client?

No. Standard partner delivery keeps you in control of the client relationship. NAS does not reach out to the organizations you submit for review.

What does white-label mean?

White-label reports are delivered under your firm's brand in the designated report area, with NAS methodology attribution included for transparency. Your client sees your firm's name — not NAS — as the report presenter.

Can I use NAS reports in my own client work?

Yes. Partner reports are designed to support advisory practice and client delivery. You may incorporate NAS analysis into your own deliverables, present findings to boards or leadership, and price your advisory services independently. Your relationship with your client is yours to manage.

What is included in partner membership?

Partner membership is $1,500 per quarter. It includes 18 SignalPoint™ credits per quarter (unused credits do not roll over — they forfeit at each renewal) and preferred VantageEdge™ White-Label pricing at $1,750 per report instead of the $2,500 list price. Additional SignalPoint™ reports beyond the included credits are $75 each. Membership is optional — reports can also be ordered à la carte.

Funders

For foundations and funders

What is GrantLens™?

GrantLens™ is the NAS report format designed for funders and foundations reviewing prospective grantees.

Does the applicant receive the GrantLens™ report?

GrantLens™ is prepared for the funder's internal diligence process and delivered to the foundation account. The foundation decides whether and how to discuss findings with the applicant.

Does GrantLens™ replace our grantmaking judgment?

No. GrantLens™ supports internal review. It should complement applicant conversation, submitted materials, staff judgment, and trustee review.

Can we review multiple applicants?

Yes. The consistent framework can support more systematic review across multiple applicants.

Pricing and Access

Cost and account questions

Is SignalPoint™ free for nonprofits?

The first SignalPoint™ is free for approved nonprofit accounts when the account email uses the organization's own domain, not a personal provider such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook. If the account uses a personal email provider, SignalPoint™ is $150. SignalPoint™ is never free for partners or funders.

Can board members request a free SignalPoint™ report?

Approved nonprofit accounts may receive one free first SignalPoint™ when the request is made through the nonprofit's own organization-domain email and the EIN has not already used the free report. Board members using a personal, corporate, law firm, or other non-organization email address follow the paid Partner pathway unless the nonprofit separately authorizes the request through an approved organization-domain account. NAS does not adjudicate internal board authority. If non-public documents are submitted, the person submitting them must have authority to provide them.

Do I pay when I sign up?

No. Paid reports are ordered separately after account approval.

How long does approval take?

Most account requests are reviewed within one business day.

How long do reports take?

SignalPoint™ is typically delivered in approximately 48 hours. VantageEdge™ reports are typically delivered in approximately 5 to 8 business days, depending on scope and materials.

Why do I need to apply for access?

NAS reports are role-specific decision-support tools. We review account requests to confirm the account type, organization, and appropriate report path before report ordering begins.

How does tax exemption work?

If your organization claims New York sales tax exemption, you may be asked to submit the required exemption certificate before checkout. If approved, your account can proceed through Stripe without applicable NY sales tax. If denied or not submitted, tax is calculated at checkout based on billing address.

Get Started

Ready to start?

Choose the path that fits your role and get started.

Apply for Access →