Can I verify if a non-profit is eligible for tax-deductible donations?

Yes! Use the `verify_charity_status` tool with the organization's EIN. Your agent will fetch the real-time compliance status from Candid's Charity Check API.

How do I find the EIN for an organization if I only have its name?

Simply ask the agent to `search_nonprofits` and provide the name. The search results will include the EIN for each matching organization, which you can then use for deeper lookups.

Does the integration allow accessing diversity and inclusion data?

Yes. Use the `get_demographics` tool. It will retrieve the DEI metadata provided by the organization to Candid, helping you understand their leadership and staff representation.

Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server for Windsurf 10 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: Candid (GuideStar)
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/mcp

Built by Vinkius GDPR 10 Tools IDE

Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect Candid (GuideStar) through Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool. ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.

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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

RecommendedModern Approach — Zero Configuration

Vinkius Desktop App

The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install Candid (GuideStar) and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "candid-guidestar": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Fully ManagedVinkius Servers

60%Token savings

High SecurityEnterprise-grade

IAMAccess control

EU AI ActCompliant

DLPData protection

V8 IsolateSandboxed

Ed25519Audit chain

<40msKill switch

Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server

Connect your Candid (formerly GuideStar) account to any AI agent and orchestrate your non-profit research, due diligence, and philanthropic data workflows through natural conversation.

Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple Candid (GuideStar) tool calls autonomously. query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 10 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor.

What you can do

Organization Oversight — Search for non-profits by name, location, or NTEE code and retrieve basic metadata using the Essentials API.
Deep-Dive Profiles — Access comprehensive data (Premier tier) including mission statements, leadership, and detailed financials.
Charity Compliance — Verify IRS tax-exempt status and eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions using the Charity Check tool.
Financial Auditing — Retrieve detailed financial records and IRS Form 990 data straight from your workspace.
Demographics Analysis — Access diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) data for organizations to inform your philanthropic strategy.
Organization Discovery — Use the EIN (Employer Identification Number) as a primary key to fetch 760+ data fields for individual entities.

The Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server exposes 10 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Windsurf in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect Candid (GuideStar) to Windsurf via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server with Windsurf.

Open MCP Settings

Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"

Add the server

Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json

Save and reload

Windsurf will detect the new server automatically

Start using Candid (GuideStar)

Open Cascade and ask: "Using Candid (GuideStar), help me...". 10 tools available

Why Use Windsurf with the Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server

Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with Candid (GuideStar) through the Model Context Protocol.

Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention

Purpose-built for agentic workflows. Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively

JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 10 tools are immediately available

Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts

Candid (GuideStar) + Windsurf Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Windsurf combined with the Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from Candid (GuideStar) and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses

Live debugging: query Candid (GuideStar) tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor

Documentation generation: pull schema information from Candid (GuideStar) and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically

Rapid prototyping: combine Candid (GuideStar) data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes

Candid (GuideStar) MCP Tools for Windsurf (10)

These 10 tools become available when you connect Candid (GuideStar) to Windsurf via MCP:

get_charity_check_pdf

Generate a PDF report for compliance record-keeping

get_demographics

Get DEI data for a nonprofit

get_grant_details

Get specific details for a grant

get_nonprofit_eligibility

Verify nonprofit eligibility for specific donation platforms

get_nonprofit_essentials

Get core details for a nonprofit by EIN

get_nonprofit_news

Get real-time social sector news related to a nonprofit

get_nonprofit_premier

Get comprehensive deep-dive data for a nonprofit by EIN

search_grants

Search for grants awarded by foundations

search_nonprofits

Search for nonprofits using filters

verify_charity_status

Verify an organization's eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions

Example Prompts for Candid (GuideStar) in Windsurf

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf agent to start working with Candid (GuideStar) immediately.

"Search for non-profits in 'Miami' with the name 'Red Cross'."

"Get detailed financial info for EIN 13-162xxxx."

"Verify the charity status for EIN 52-153xxxx."

Troubleshooting Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server with Windsurf

Common issues when connecting Candid (GuideStar) to Windsurf through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Server not connecting

Check Settings → MCP for the server status. Try toggling it off and on.

Candid (GuideStar) + Windsurf FAQ

Common questions about integrating Candid (GuideStar) MCP Server with Windsurf.

How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?

Windsurf reads the mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.

Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?

Yes. Cascade is an agentic system. it can plan and execute multi-step workflows, calling several tools in sequence to accomplish complex tasks without manual prompting between steps.

Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?

Yes. Add as many servers as needed in mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.