Charity on the Web: An evaluation of an Iranian Charity Organization Website

Library Herald Year : 2016, Volume : 54, Issue : 3 First page : ( 261) Last page : ( 276) Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Online ISSN : 0976-2469. Article DOI : 10.5958/0976-2469.2016.00019.1

Charity on the Web: An evaluation of an Iranian Charity Organization Website

Riahinia Nosrat1, Azimi Ali2,*, Moradi Fatemeh3, Mirhosseini Mahdiyeh4, Chitsaz Mahdiyeh5 1Full professor of, LIS, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran, sara_purriahi@yahoo.com 2PhD student of, LIS, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 3MA of, Scientometrics, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran, fatemehmoradi66@gmail.com 4MA of, LIS, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran, mirhosseini.mah@gmail.com 5MA of, LIS, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran, nasrin.chitsaz.66@gmail.com *(corresponding author). azimia@gmail.com Abstract

Purpose The study aims at evaluation of a charity organization website in Iran, i.e. Iran Organization of Devotion and Charity Affairs (IODCA). Using a robust evaluating tool the study is taking heed of a set of criteria inevitable for a successful charity website.

Design/methodology/approach IODCA had a total of 32 IODCA affiliated centers in 32 provinces each with an identical website. Thus, 32 IOCDA websites were examined through a standard 4-category tool consisting 113 criteria. The relevant information considering these criteria was gathered during March-June 2014. All websites were observed and evaluated manually and accordingly received a score for each criterion. The general status of websites was drawn by calculating their total scores.

Findings The results indicated that IOCDA websites were overly weak considering studied features. Caring for the users’ needs along with offering more safety-app facilities would enhance these websites’ status.

Originality/value This is the first time a study delves into charity organizations’ websites in Iran and among very rare studies in the subject across the globe. The value lies in the fact that charity organizations are very specific in earning trust of viewers and donators.

Keywords IODCA Website, Charity Organization, Evaluation, Iran,Riahinia Nosrat, Azimi Ali, Moradi Fatemeh, Mirhosseini Mahdiyeh, Chitsaz Mahdiyeh.