End-of-Life Care Nonprofit Earns 4-star Rating from Charity Navigator for 8th Consecutive Year
Only 3% of charities Charity Navigator evaluates receive at least 8 consecutive 4-star evaluations
Sep 17, 2018 Charity Navigator Kim Callinan ratings
Compassion & Choices, a national nonprofit organization committed to improving care and expanding options for the end of life, has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity navigator, for the 8th straight year. Only 3 percent of charities Charity Navigator evaluates receive at least 8 consecutive 4-star evaluations.
Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating means Compassion & Choices is “Exceptional: Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause. This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Compassion & Choices from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”
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. The accountability and 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.
“Our donors’ generosity has inspired and fueled the unprecedented progress we have made these past eight years,” said Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices. “We are grateful for this support, and remain firmly committed to effectively stewarding their contributions, so that together we can realize a world where people in every state have the autonomy to make their own healthcare decisions at the end of life.”
Compassion & Choices’ annual revenue has increased during the last eight years by nearly 4 million dollars from $7.6 million in 2011 to $11.5 million in 2018. This revenue has enabled Compassion & Choices and/or its sister organization, Compassion & Choices Action Network, to lead or support campaigns to pass medical-aid in-dying laws in the District of Columbia in 2016 and four states (Vermont in 2013, California in 2015, Colorado in 2016, Hawai'i in 2018). Medical aid in dying is a voluntary option for mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to request prescription medication they can decide to take to peacefully end their suffering if it becomes unbearable.
Prior to 2011, medical aid in dying had been authorized in three states, Oregon, Washington and Montana, representing less than 4 percent of the U.S. population. Today, the 8 total jurisdictions where medical aid in dying is authorized represent 19 percent of the nation’s population and have 40 years of combined experience safely using this end-of-life care option.
“Donors deserve to know that their contributions are being used to advance the mission of an organization,” said David N. Cook, chair of the Compassion & Choices Board of Directors. “Compassion & Choices’ top ratings as a charity demonstrate that we are spending our donors’ money wisely, investing in our programs, and ultimately transforming end-of-life care and choice.”
Compassion & Choices also receives outstanding ratings from other major charity evaluators in the nonprofit world. For example, Compassion & Choices is a “GuideStar Gold” participant, the BBB (Better Business Bureau) Wise Giving Alliance has accredited Compassion & Choices for meeting 20 exacting standards for charity accountability. Here is video interview BBB conducted with Compassion & Choices CEO Kim Callinan: bit.ly/KimCvideoBBB.
In addition, Compassion & Choices is included in the CharityWatch Top-Rated Charities list and Compassion & Choices is included in the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Charities list.
To learn more visit CompassionAndChoices.org/who-we-are
