Rheumatology Research Foundation Ranked in Top 2% of Charities by Charity Navigator

Rashad Ashurov; DinoZ/shutterstock.com

The Rheumatology Research Foundation recently received its seventh consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator. This prestigious, highest rating possible is based on good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

As the nonprofit 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. To help donors, Charity Navigator works to ensure a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health, accountability and transparency of 8,000 of America’s largest charities.

“Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that the Foundation adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way,” says Michael Thatcher, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator. “Only 2% of the charities we rate have received at least seven consecutive four-star evaluations, indicating that the Rheumatology Research Foundation outperforms most other charities in America.”

Charity Navigator calculates each charity’s score on the basis of how much is spent per dollar raised, what percentage of funds goes to programs vs. administrative and fundraising expenses, and the organization’s long-term financial health. It then assigns a rating from one to four, with four being the best rating.

Mary Wheatley, IOM, CAE, executive director of the Foundation, says, “This high rating reflects our dedication to ensuring that every donation goes directly into programs that fund research and encourage the development of new ways to administer patient care. None of that is possible without a robust rheumatology community, so the Foundation is creating training opportunities to recruit people into the field.”