USA (MNN) — Compassion International, one of the world's leading child development ministries, has received Charity Navigator's coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management for the sixth consecutive year.
That puts Compassion in the top 1 percent of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator.
"Compassion takes stewardship as a sacred trust with our sponsors and donors, and that's why it's so important to us that we walk the talk in this critical area," said David Dahlin, Compassion's Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "We're honored to receive this ranking for the sixth year in a row because it affirms our dedication to excellence and stewardship."
Ed Anderson, Compassion's Chief Financial Officer, said that strict guidelines for spending and on-going accountability have aided Compassion over the years.
"Our audits on financial accountability have been rigorous," Anderson said. "While we meet the legal requirements all U.S. charities must comply with, we have developed audit procedures and teams to provide fiscal scrutiny in the U.S. and in all 24 countries where Compassion's child development ministries are implemented by local churches. Americans expect their charitable dollars to be wisely spent and fully accounted for."
In addition to the prestigious ranking by Charity Navigator, Compassion has been recognized for superior financial integrity by several publications and financial-accountability groups, including The American Institute of Philanthropy. Compassion is also a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
"As the non-profit sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars," said Trent Stamp, president of Charity Navigator.
This positions Compassion to help even more children physically and spiritually, as the organization works through local churches in the areas where they work. Compassion is one of the world's largest Christian child-development organizations, working with more than 65 denominations and nearly 4,000 indigenous church partners in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Since its founding in 1952, Compassion has touched the lives of more than 1.6 million children.
