JCC Association Earns Top Rating for Fourth Consecutive Year in Independent Review of Charitable Groups
NY NEW YORK, NY, February 12, 2009 – JCC Association, the continental leadership organization for the JCC Movement, has, for the fourth consecutive year, been recognized by Charity Navigator for exceptional fundraising practices. Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org) is the nation’s largest independent evaluator, and it assesses 5,000 charitable organizations annually to determine how much each spends to raise money and what percentage of the dollars raised are allocated to programs and services. JCC Association again earned the service’s highest 4-star rating for fiscal 2008, the most recent data available. Only seven percent of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received four consecutive 4-star evaluations.
“Receiving four out of a possible four stars,” reads an online statement by Charity Navigator, “indicates that your organization excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of your organization in an efficient and effective manner. This consistency in your rating is an exceptional feat, especially given the economic challenges many charities have had to face in the last year.”
For comparison purposes, charities are assigned to categories based on the purposes for which they raise money. JCC Association is ranked among multipurpose human services organizations that rely on support from public sources and individuals. Charity Navigator reviews federal tax returns and other public financial data to derive its ratings, designed to assist individual donors in learning about a charity’s fiscal practices before making philanthropic choices. The service does not rate lobbying groups, family foundations, and charities largely dependent on private foundations.
According to Charity Navigator’s analysis, JCC Association used nearly 87 percent of its FY2008 income for programs and services. Only four percent of monies raised was spent on fundraising expenditures. “I am proud that once again JCC Association has received the highest ranking possible from Charity Navigator,” said JCC Association Chairman Alan Solow. “Recognition from this independent source verifies to our supporters that their charitable contributions and grants are carefully administered. As the umbrella organization for JCCs throughout the continent, we are proud to set an example of fiscal responsibility that reflects the values of the JCC Movement.”
Said Vice-President of Development Fani Magnus Monson, “We’re proud to have this badge of honor for a fourth consecutive year. We work very hard to meet our commitment to our donors to achieve all benchmarks set by the grants we receive, and to keep our ratio of fundraising expenses to dollars raised to the lowest possible level.”
Magnus Monson noted that fundraising decisions are made strategically and collaboratively. Targets and goals are carefully set by a Financial Resources Development Committee that includes professional and lay leadership. “In this difficult year, this extraordinary recognition by Charity Navigator is all the more meaningful.”
###
JCC Association
is the leadership network of, and central agency for the Jewish
Community Center Movement, which is comprised of 350 JCC,
YM-YWHA and camp sites in the U. S. and Canada. JCC Association
offers a wide range of services and resources to strengthen
the capacity of its affiliates to provide educational, cultural,
social, Jewish identity-building, and recreational programs
to enhance the lives of North American Jews of all ages and
backgrounds. Additionally, the movement fosters and strengthens
connections between North American Jews and Israel as well
as with world Jewry. JCC Association is also the U.S. government
accredited agency for serving the religious and social needs
of Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients
in VA hospitals through JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
Miriam
Rinn
Communications Manager
JCC Association
520 8th Ave., NY, NY 10018
212-786-5092
fax: 212-481-4174
send an e-mail
Back to Press Releases |
Privacy policy | Contact
us | Home
|
