A new nonprofit research firm has issued its first report on Massachusetts charities, using a rating system designed to help donors select the organizations most worthy of investment in particular causes, The Boston Globe writes.

The study, released Wednesday by Cambridge’s Root Cause, focuses on school-readiness programs, evaluating providers based on their financial health, local impact, and implementation of best practices, as determined by researching the larger issue.

Root Cause’s chief executive, Andrew Wolk, said the firm—which was started with $500,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation—plans eventually to take its rating system nationwide. It has formed a partnership with the online site GuideStar as part of its plans.

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