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The team from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent charity evaluator and leading donor advocate, shares their thoughts on emerging nonprofit-sector issues and offers tips to better inform your intelligent giving decisions.
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Monday, February 24, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
7 Year Old Raises over $60,000 for Cancer Research
What happens when a
determined seven year old is told he is too young to attend a charity event? He
starts his own event and raises $60,000! Ethan Sandlofer lost his mother five
years ago to a rare form of cancer. In honor of her, Ethan's father Jason has
been doing the annual Cycle for Survival event to raise money for Memorial Sloan
Kettering. When Ethan asked to do it as well he was told that only adults could
be involved. Ethan decided to create his own event through Cycle for Survival
that was the first if it's kind for kids. He started small getting it set up at
his school for him and his classmates. But now it's become a large event and has
been covered by multiple news agencies HERE and HERE. The event is this Saturday and Ethan has
surpassed his early fundraising goal and now is on his way to his new goal of
$70,000. If he reaches that goal he will win a bet he has with his father.
Ethan will get to shave his father’s head! This is a great example of the fact
that no matter how young, old, big or small you are, you can make a difference
and get the word out for your cause. Please share with us ways in which you teach your kids about charity and giving back.
As a 501 (c) (3) organization itself, Charity Navigator depends on public support to help donors make informed choices. Please consider investing in the future of Charity Navigator by making a donation today. Donate now >>
As a 501 (c) (3) organization itself, Charity Navigator depends on public support to help donors make informed choices. Please consider investing in the future of Charity Navigator by making a donation today. Donate now >>
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
An Update on our Charity Data
As of February 1, Charity Navigator has 7,000 charity evaluations on its website.
- In their most recent fiscal year, these charities generated approximately $227 billion in total revenue.
- Of this $227 billion in total revenue, $204 billion came from the charities’ primary revenue sources.
- More than half of this primary revenue, some $110 billion, came from contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government grants.
- These same organizations reported spending $214 billion. Roughly 87%, or $187 billion, of these expenses were reported as program expenses. Administration expenses accounted for 9%, or $19 billion, and fundraising expenses accounted for the final 4%, or $9 billion.
- The charities we evaluated reported total net assets equaling $518 billion.
- Seven out of ten of the charities examined by Charity Navigator spend less than 10% of their budget on fundraising costs, less than 15% on administration costs, and at least 75% on the programs and services they exist to provide.
- Over their past three to five fiscal years, 40% of the organizations demonstrate at least 5% growth in their primary revenue and program expenses.
- Slightly more than half (52%) of the organizations have accumulated at least a year’s worth of working capital to fall back on during economic downturns.
- A quarter of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator ran an average deficit in their past three to five fiscal years.
- 13% devoted less than 70% of their budgets to their programs and services and 4% devote less than 60%.
- 5% maintain less than a month’s worth of working capital.
- 77 charities get an overall 0-star rating.
- 139 charities have a Donor Advisory.
- Only 53% of the charities have donor privacy policies.
As a 501 (c) (3) organization itself, Charity Navigator depends on public support to help donors make informed choices. Please consider investing in the future of Charity Navigator by making a donation today. Donate now >>
Friday, February 14, 2014
Hail to the Charity
In honor of President’s Day on Monday, consider supporting one of the following presidential charities.
- Eisenhower Fellowships
- John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- The Richard Nixon Foundation
- George Washington's Mount Vernon
- Clinton Foundation
- Ford's Theatre Society
- The George Washington University
- The Carter Center
- Thomas Jefferson Foundation

As a 501 (c) (3) organization itself, Charity Navigator depends on public support to help donors make informed choices. Please consider investing in the future of Charity Navigator by making a donation today. Donate now >>
Friday, February 7, 2014
Today's Featured Charities Focus on the Olympics

- Adaptive Sports Foundation
- U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation
- United States Olympic Committee
- US Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
- USA Shooting
As a 501 (c) (3) organization itself, Charity Navigator depends on public support to help donors make informed choices. Please consider investing in the future of Charity Navigator by making a donation today. Donate now >>
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