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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3/26/07

CONTACT: Miriam Rinn, Communications Manager | 212-786-5092 | send an e-mail


JCC Association Earns Top Rating for Second Consecutive Year in Independent Review of Charitable Groups


NEW YORK, NY, March 22, 2007 – JCC Association, the continental umbrella organization for the JCC Movement, has, for the second 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 four-star rating for fiscal 2005, the most recent data available.

“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 88 percent of its FY2005 income for programs and services. Only four percent of monies raised, was spent on fundraising expenditures. Since Charity Navigator’s review a year ago, JCC Association increased its revenue by more than six percent, while spending on programs and services grew by more than ten percent.

“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 second consecutive year. We work very hard to meet our commitment to our donors to maintain the highest standards of transparency and to achieve all benchmarks set by the grants we receive. The news couldn’t be better.”

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. JCC Association board members to handle the majority of solicitation of regular donors to the annual campaign. “The fact that our donor base is relatively small – a few hundred major donors and an additional several thousand on the community level – makes this extraordinary recognition by Charity Navigator all the more remarkable.”



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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
15 E. 26 St., NY, NY 10010
212-786-5092

grounds. Additionally, the movement fosters and strengthens connections between North American Jews and Israel as well as with world Jewry. JCC Association is also a 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.

The NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded by the National Football League and NFL Players Association in 1998 to use football as a catalyst to promote positive youth development. Through the YFF, hundreds of thousands of youngsters have been given the opportunity to learn the game of football, get physically fit, and stay involved in productive after-school activities with adult mentors. The YFF also provides youth football participants with safe and accessible places to play, as well as programs and initiatives that address the importance of proper coaching, academics, health and safety, and life skills development.
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