NEADS’ strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it another 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the 17th consecutive time that NEADS has earned this top distinction. In fact, with only one other organization that has received as many, NEADS is at the very top of the 10 Charities with the Most Consecutive 4-Star Ratings list.

To earn this distinction, organizations must be high performers consistently, year after year. Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of a 4-star rating.

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, we upgraded our methodology for rating each charity’s’ financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiates the financial health of our four star charities.

“NEADS’ 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. “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 NEADS.”

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using their donations wisely to train and place World Class Service Dogs with people who need them,” said Cathy Zemaitis, Director of Development for NEADS. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.”

Learn more about what the Charity Navigator rating means for donors here, and see our listing on Charity Navigator here.