Center thankful for stellar reviews from charity watchdogs

Introduction

I can honestly say that as a nonprofit organization, The Center for Public Integrity itself meets the highest standards of accountability.

We’ve just been given the coveted certification by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. To get it, we’ve met the BBB’s rigorous 20 Standards of Charitable Accountability. The BBB designation is in addition to our Four-Star ranking by Charity Navigator — its highest designation. The Center for Public Integrity has had a Four-Star ranking from Charity Navigator for the last three years, one of only about 10 percent of all nonprofits that are so recognized. In addition, we are also designated as a Silver Participant by GuideStar Exchange.

These third-party oversight organizations, the nation’s leading nonprofit evaluators, look closely at the Center’s operations, fiscal management, leadership and fundraising. I’m happy to report these charity watchdogs all like what they see here. Such third-party oversight has increased in recent years in response to growing public demand for greater accountability and transparency from the nonprofit sector. We welcome this trend.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance, in particular, is a highly influential evaluator of nonprofits that conduct fundraising. Its mission and website aim to assist donors in making informed judgments by providing objective evaluations of charities based on some of the most detailed standards of accountability.

The truth is foundations, governments and donors have all begun to seek more and better information about the activities, outcomes and operations of nonprofit organizations — and what they are achieving with their donations. Again, such scrutiny is beneficial. The Center for Public Integrity seeks to be one of the highest ranking nonprofits for potential contributors.

In our investigative work, we fervently believe in greater transparency and accountability. I don’t think we could accept anything less when it comes to our own operations as a well-run nonprofit organization. Here is where you can make a donation.

Enjoy your holiday.

Until next week.

Bill

P.S. For any Watchdog readers interested in solutions to the federal debt and deficits questions, there will be a conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., next Tuesday, Dec. 3rd. I will be helping moderate the Second Annual Conference on Fiscal Responsibility, sponsored by the University of New Hampshire Law School’s Rudman Center. The non-partisan gathering from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. is called, “Moving Beyond the Short-term: What will It Take to Prevent a Debt Crisis?”