GuideStar, a leading resource for nonprofit data, has announced plans to acquire two innovative social impact organizations, Philanthropedia and Social Actions. GuideStar’s addition of both organizations will strengthen its role in the nonprofit industry by adding to its growing knowledge base of tools, data and information designed to advance transparency within the nonprofit sector.

Philanthropedia and Social Actions are aligned with GuideStar’s new strategic plan, which puts expanded emphasis on increased transparency in legitimacy, reputation and performance information about the nonprofit community.

Using an open-source technology platform, Philanthropedia’s network has evaluated 1,700 nonprofits in 15 different cause areas. The organization’s proprietary research methodology was created to help direct funding to groups of high-impact organizations in specific mission areas. GuideStar’s acquisition will keep the Philanthropedia team intact to scale their review system and integrate it into GuideStar’s existing data platforms.

Social Actions is an aggregator of peer-to-peer giving opportunities and other actionable resources from dozens of high-quality online philanthropic platforms. Social Actions has pioneered and continues to oversee the development of an open database that supports a thriving ecosystem of innovative Web applications and widgets, connecting donors and volunteers with unique opportunities to make a difference.