United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region Earns Coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

From United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region:

Poughkeepsie, NY & Montgomery, NY — United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency has earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using their donations wisely to accomplish our mission to help build a stronger, healthier community,” said Jeannie Montano, President & CEO of United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.”

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. These Accountability & Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders. On June 1, 2016, the organization upgraded their methodology for rating each charity’s financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiate the financial health of the 4-star-rated charities.

“United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support this United Way.”

United Way’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. More-detailed information about United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.

Image courtesy of United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.