For Charities and Donors, Efficiency Matters
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 22, 2008) – Why are more and more people buying compact fluorescent light bulbs? Why is the Prius one of the hottest selling cars on the market today? And why is Food For The Poor among the highest-rated charities?
The answer is simple: because efficiency matters.
Stretching one’s dollar as far as possible –or being efficient with money –is nothing new. Business does it to increase profits. Families do it to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads. And charities do it because, in the nonprofit world, keeping a close eye on the pennies means the dollars can do more good.
As Charity Navigator, the nation’s foremost independent charity evaluator puts it, “Charities that are efficient spend less money to raise more. Their fundraising efforts stay in line with the scope of the programs and services they provide. They keep administrative costs within reasonable limits. They devote the majority of their spending to the programs and services they exist to provide.” In other words, they watch the pennies so the dollars can do more good.
One charity that has consistently kept a close eye on the pennies is Food For The Poor. In fact, the Florida-based nonprofit reports an impressive efficiency rating of 96.78%. That means that nearly 97% of all donations to Food For The Poor goes to programs that help those who need it.
Equally impressive is Food For The Poor’s high marks from industry watchdogs. Charity Navigator, which reviews and rates more than 5,300 charities says Food For The Poor is one of only 45 nonprofits that has earned a 4-star rating seven years in a row. Ministry Watch gives Food For The Poor a 5 Star Financial Efficiency rating –the highest possible score. Forbes Magazine, which puts out an annual list of America’s biggest charities, says the average efficiency rating in 2007 was 90% -and recommends “a cold, hard look at anyone with an efficiency below 70%”. And the Better Business Bureau says Food For The Poor meets the “extensive standards of America’s most experienced charity evaluator.”
Add it all together and it’s easy to see why efficiency matters –and why Food For The Poor is one of the top-rated charities in America.
Food For The Poor is the second largest international relief and development organization in the nation. With more than 96% of all donations going directly to programs that help those in need, Food For The Poor provides nourishing food, safe shelter, necessary medical care, educational materials, support for orphans and the aged, and much more to the poorest of the poor in 16 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. To learn how you can help, visit www.foodforthepoor.org.
Contact:
Hugh Graf
(954) 427-2222 x 6610
