BLACKHAWK REGION. – For the seventh consecutive year, United Way Blackhawk Region’s sound fiscal management practices, commitment to accountability and transparency have earned the local nonprofit organization a 4 out of 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. United Way Blackhawk Region has also earned for the sixth year in a row, a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, its highest rating available.
“Our unwavering commitment to responsible stewardship of donor dollars is reinforced by consistently earning top ratings from two of the nation’s most trusted nonprofit evaluators, Charity Navigator and GuideStar,” said United Way President and CEO Mary Fanning-Penny. “The board of directors and lean team is incredibly proud of this accomplishment and what it should symbolize to donors – a gift to United Way is a prudent investment in our community.”
Charity Navigator is the largest charity evaluator in America. Last year alone, Charity Navigator’s website had more than eleven million visits by donors who used the site that has received praise from TIME Magazine, Forbes, Reader’s Digest, PC World, BusinessWeek, and Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine. Charity Navigator’s founders wanted to give donors across the country the tools necessary to make informed giving decisions.
Founded in 1994, GuideStar has helped drive the nonprofit transparency revolution. GuideStar released the first-ever searchable electronic database of nonprofits in 1996. Over the years, GuideStar expanded the database to include all tax-exempt organizations registered with IRS; the database currently comprises profiles of 2.7 million organizations.
Fanning-Penny added, “Thanks to donors from across the Blackhawk Region, we fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. We steward generosity and direct resources where they’re needed most, to achieve the greatest impact.”
United Way Blackhawk Region encourages undecided donors to do their research and recommends Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau as effective tools for analysis. Additional information on United Way Blackhawk Region’s charity ratings and financial accountability may be found online at LiveUnitedBR.org/financial-accountability/.
