Once Again, JDC Received Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating

From:  Penny Blumenstein, President

           Steve Schwager, CEO

Re:  Charity Navigator Rating

Date:  April 25, 2012

We have just been informed by Charity Navigator that we have once again been awarded a 4-star rating, which is the highest rating possible.

Charity Navigator is America’s premier charity evaluator.  They highlight the work of efficient charities and provide donors with essential information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.

Ken Berger, President and CEO, wrote the following about JDC:  “Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way.  Only 15% of the charities we rate have received at least 2 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee outperforms most other charities in America.”

We know you share our pride in their faith not simply in what we do, but also how we do it.  

JDC Receives 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

From: Irv Smokler, President and Steve Schwager, CEO
Re: Charity Navigator Rating
Date: October 7, 2011

In May 2011, we wrote to you to explain why JDC’s Charity Navigator rating was reduced from 4 to 3-stars.

We have just been informed by Charity Navigator that they have revised their rating system and we have once again been awarded a 4-star rating, which is the highest rating possible.

In today’s competitive philanthropic marketplace, Charity Navigator is America’s premier charity evaluator. They highlight the work of efficient charities and provide donors with essential information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make. They wrote the following about JDC: “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

We know you share our pride in their faith not simply in what we do, but also how we do it. And as we begin a New Year, we thank you for your faith in us as well.

JDC Receives Charity Navigator's Highest Rating for a Third Consecutive Year

NEW YORK, NY, June 2, 2010 – For the third consecutive year, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has received Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating, given in recognition of JDC’s ability to outperform most charities in the U.S. by efficiently managing its finances.

“We’re proud that to see that once again JDC has been lauded by Charity Navigator for both its fiscal responsibility and its role as the leading provider of critical support for Jews in need around the world,” said JDC’s CEO Steven Schwager.

JDC has previously been named one of Charity Navigator’s “10 of the Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of”; was among the top 100 charities in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual “Philanthropy 400” listing; and is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau.

“Only 14% of the charities we rate have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America,” said Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Charity Navigator – the largest independent evaluator of philanthropies in the U.S. – provides information and evaluates the financial health of more than 5,500 charities.

JDC Receives Coveted 4 Star Rating from Charity Navigator

In this briefing, Steve Schwager, CEO shares the letter he recently received from Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator congratulating JDC on our second consecutive 4 Star rating.

In addition to being named one of Charity Navigator’s “10 of the Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of” earlier this year, JDC is among the Non Profit Times’ Top 100 nonprofits and is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau.

Today I bring you good news. As you know, both the Board and the staff pride themselves on the efficiency and effectiveness of JDC. We have numerous internal and external audits. Our programs are regularly evaluated and we are always looking for new and innovative ways to carry out our mission. This is just part of the JDC culture and we often take for granted that this is the way every philanthropic entity should operate.

Last week, we were very happy to receive the following letter which gives an impartial, third-party evaluation—and confirmation—of JDC’s transparency and highest level of fiscal responsibility.

On behalf of Charity Navigator, I wish to congratulate American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee on achieving our coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management.

As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency, and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars. In this competitive philanthropic marketplace, Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator, highlights the fine work of efficient charities such as your own, and provides donors with essential information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.

Based on the most recent financial information available, we have calculated a new rating for your organization. We are proud to announce American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has earned our second consecutive 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Only 19% of the charities we rate have received at least 2 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.

Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplinger's Financial Magazine, among others, have profiled and celebrated our unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector. We evaluate ten times more charities than our nearest competitor and currently attract more visitors to our website than all other charity rating groups combined, thus making us the leading charity evaluator in America. Our irrefutable data shows that users of our site gave more than they planned to before viewing our findings, and in fact, it is estimated that last year Charity Navigator influenced over $10 billion in charitable gifts.

We believe our service will enhance your organization's fundraising and public relations efforts. Our favorable review of American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's fiscal health will be visible on our website as of July 1st.

We wish you the best in all of your charitable endeavors.

Sincerely,
Ken Berger
President & Chief Executive Officer

Irv and I know that you all join us in kvelling just a little at this unique award. It speaks volumes about not only what we do, but also about who we are. And of course it reinforces our determination to always maintain the highest standards. In this vein, JDC’s staff and lay leadership will be working hard over the summer to prepare the 2010 budget.

We hope you have a wonderful summer.

Jewish nonprofits make Charity Navigator’s Top 10 lists, some for good some for bad

By Jacob Berkman
May 6, 2009
JTA

Charity Navigator just published its annual Top 10 lists, and Jewish nonprofits showed up on several of the rankings, including “Top 10 Charities with consecutive 4-star ratings” and “Top 10 charities drowning in administrative costs.” (No Jewish organizations showed up on the list of “highly effective charities with low paid CEOs.”)

Some Jewish charities fared well:
The Jewish Communal Fund in New York, which has nearly a half a billion dollars in assets, ranked number 1 on the list of “Slam dunk charities,” which points out nonprofits that spend their money well and make their donors happy.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee was ranked number 9 on “Top 10 best charities everyone has heard of.”

The Western Wall Heritage Fund, which helps pay for construction and renovation on the Western Wall, ranked 6 on “Charities expanding in a hurry.”

Others showed up on less glorious lists:
The Center for Jewish History in New York made an auspicious list, ranking 6 on the “Ten charities that routinely operate in the red” list.

The Federation, Jewish Communities of Western Connecticut ranked number 5, and the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties ranked number 10 on the list of “Charities stockpiling your money,” a list that points out charities that are building their endowments and have at least two years of expenses in reserves, but aren’t really spending much money on programming.

And two Jewish charities simply don’t get much love. The Museum of Eldridge Street, which tracks the history of Jewish immigrants to New York’s Lower East Side, and the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut ranked number 9 and number 2, respectively, on the list of charities with the least page views on charitynavigator.org in April.


Source: http://blogs.jta.org/philanthropy/article/2009/05/06/1004964/jewish-nonprofits-make-charity-navigators-top-10-lists-some-for-good-some-for-bad

Charity Navigator: 10 Best Charities

10 of the Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of

These 10 charities work throughout the country and the world. They are large, complex organizations with budgets exceeding $100 million, and at least $65 million in net assets. They became household names in part because of their exceptional financial management, no easy feat considering the scope and size of their operations. Charitable givers should feel confident that these national institutions put their donations to good use.

1. Direct Relief International
2. The National Christian Foundation
3. PATH
4. Conservation International
5. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
6. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
7. City of Hope
8. World Wildlife Fund
9. The Nature Conservancy
10. MAP International

From Charity Navigator
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=18