Direct Relief Awarded Four Stars by Charity Navigator for Fifth Consecutive Year
Only 4% of rated charities have earned distinction for 5 years
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (May 15, 2009) For a fifth consecutive year, humanitarian medical aid organization Direct Relief International has been recognized as a "Four Star Charity" by leading nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator, again earning the highest rating for charities.
"We are pleased to receive Charity Navigator‘s top rating for the fifth straight year," said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO. "It’s welcome news as Direct Relief and everyone else is stretched by challenging economic times and as we try to do more with less to assist people who are particularly vulnerable."
According to its Web site, Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is the largest charity evaluator in America. The organization guides intelligent giving by evaluating the financial health of over 5,000 charities. Charity Navigator is a 501(c)(3) organization which accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased results.
"Only 4% of the charities we rate have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Direct Relief International consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America," said Charity Navigator President and CEO Ken Berger in the letter announcing the rating.
Charity Navigator's rating system is based on an evaluation of an organization's financial health, efficiency, and capacity in comparison with the performances of similar charities. According to the organization, a four-star rating indicates that a charity's organizational efficiency and organizational capacity "exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause."
Rare among national nonprofit organizations, Direct Relief receives no government support, is funded entirely with private contributions, and has its administrative and fundraising expenses paid by a bequest from a longtime donor. "People expect us to be efficient when they give us their money, so this is a very nice piece of news for Direct Relief's wonderfully generous supporters… and potential supporters," said Tighe.
About Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara, California–based nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief works in 59 countries and has delivered more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian medical aid to health professionals serving impoverished communities since 2000. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for seven consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California’s largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.
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