Can we ever really trust charities?

I’ve heard some terrible stories of money given to help those in need being diverted and misused. I’ve heard of people traveling overseas to see projects they’ve funded only to find that those projects don’t really exist.

Thankfully, most organisations that are set up to make a real difference in this world are honest and are doing good work, but the question remains, how do we know who we can really trust? Do we simply give up and refuse to donate or is there a better way?

Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator is an independent charity evaluator which works to inform those of us who want to help others but need to know if the money we give is actually doing what it should be doing. They check the financial health, accountability and transparency of 7,500 charities. Those put under the microscope range from faith based and secular agencies working in developing countries to organisations working within the U.S. for causes like fighting cancer through to a foundation giving grants to shooting sports. They’ve just released their 13th annual research findings.

As someone who works for Compassion, I’m more than happy to be able to point people to independent evaluations of our work. I know that what we do is making a huge difference because I’ve seen it first hand, but being able to say to people, “Don’t just take my word for it” is extremely important. It’s good to see that Compassion has once again found itself at the top of the ratings.

For the 13th consecutive year, Compassion International has earned the highest rating for U.S. charities from Charity Navigator—the nation’s largest charity evaluator. The 4-out-of-4 stars rating places Compassion International in the top one-percent of non-profits reviewed by Charity Navigator. – PR Web

Wow. Once again Compassion is in the top 1% of the 7,500 charities that were reviewed. As you can imagine, that gives me extreme confidence when I talk to friends, supporters, pastors and churches about how Compassion truly is releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Charity Navigator’s Vice President Sandra Miniutti explains a little of what that actually means for those looking for an effective way of helping those in need of our help.

“Receiving a consistently ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator indicates that Compassion International out performs most other charities in America,” said Charity Navigator Vice President Sandra Miniutti.“Less than a dozen of the 7,500 charities we rate have received 13 consecutive 4-star evaluations and Compassion International is the only international charity to receive this distinction. Compassion International’s staff, board and supporters should be proud of its ability to consistently execute its mission in a fiscally responsible and ethical way.” – PR Web

I work for Compassion because I am convinced that there is no more effective organisation serving the world’s poor. I have seen no other method of working with those in poverty that even comes close to the way that Compassion is working.

That’s not the marketing spin of someone who works for the organisation, it’s the heartfelt conviction of someone who has seen the light streaming in to some very dark corners of this world and wants to be part of seeing more light and hope filling the lives of those around the world who are the poorest of the poor.

“Financial integrity is of vital importance to Compassion International,” said Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, president and CEO of Compassion International. “Our entire ministry model is built around trust. The families of the children we serve trust that we will care for and minister to them; our sponsors and donors trust we will spend their dollars wisely in pursuit of that ministry. We trust our global network of local churches to deliver Compassion’s holistic child development program, and we have complete trust in God to bless and multiply our efforts as we advocate for some of the poorest children in the world.” – PR Web

If you are keen to see the end of extreme poverty, can I encourage you to do the research and find an organisation you can trust to do the job they promise to do. For me, the results are in and they point directly to Compassion. If you want to find out more about what Compassion does, just head to the website.

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