“This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Tostan from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”
Ken Berger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charity Navigator
May 14, 2014
Dakar, Senegal
For the sixth consecutive year, Tostan has been awarded the highest rating by America’s largest independent evaluator of charities, Charity Navigator. “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,” said Ken Berger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charity Navigator, in a letter to Tostan’s Founder and Executive Director Molly Melching early this month.
He continued: “Only 3% of the charities we rate have received at least six consecutive four star evaluations, indicating that Tostan outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Tostan 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 Charity Navigator’s unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector.
Tostan received its first 4-star rating in 2009. In late September 2011, Charity Navigator launched its new, in-depth rating system. This new system not only evaluates a charity’s financial health, but also uses metrics to judge the charity’s accountability and transparency. Upon the launch of this new system, half of the charities currently rated on Charity Navigator received new ratings; the total number of charities with a 4-star rating, the highest one, decreased by 20 percent. Even with the more complex evaluation criteria, Tostan still maintained its 4-star rating.
“Tostan has for many years been committed to transparency, accountability, and financial health, as these principles honor the accomplishments of our community partners as well as the trust placed in us by the many partners and supporters who make our work possible,” said Molly Melching.
She continued: “We are proud to receive this recognition, and as an organization we are using this moment to look to the future, to ensure we keep learning about and putting in place the practices and procedures that will be needed as the nonprofit landscape continues to evolve and improve.”
Charity Navigator attracts more visitors to its website than all other charity rating groups combined, thus making them the leading charity evaluator in America. Data shows that users of this evaluator’s website gave more than they planned to before viewing their findings. In fact, it is estimated that last year Charity Navigator influenced approximately $10 billion USD in charitable gifts.
“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 [money],” said Ken Berger.
Ends
Note to Editors
Tostan is an International NGO, registered in the US, headquartered in Senegal whose mission is to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights. Tostan implements its holistic three-year program in six West African countries. To find out more about Tostan, visit www.tostan.org
For further information, please contact:
Aliou Bassoum, Interim Director of Communications, Tostan
Email: alioubassoum@tostan.org
Telephone: +221 77 656 79 12
