Communities In Schools earn another top rating

Communities In Schools earned another 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's premier nonprofit evaluator. This is the sixth consecutive time that Communities In Schools has earned this top distinction based on its sound fiscal management practices and commitment to accountability and transparency.

According to Charity Navigator, receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that CIS 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.

Only 3 percent of the charities rated by Charity Navigator have received at least 6 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Communities In Schools National Office outperforms most other charities in America.

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using our funding wisely to reduce the dropout rate and improve outcomes for low-income students,”said CIS President Dan Cardinali. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters that we take our fiduciary and governance responsibilities very seriously.”

Since 2002, using objective, data-driven 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 have “best practices”that minimize the chance of unethical activities and whether they freely share basic information about their organization with their donors and other stakeholders.

“Communities In Schools’coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,”according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Out of the thousands of nonprofits Charity Navigator evaluates, only one out of four earns 4 stars –– a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness. Communities In Schools’supporters should feel much more confident that their hard-earned dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly when it acquires such a high rating.”

CIS has been ranked among the top 100 national nonprofits by the Nonprofit Times and Philanthropedia, a nonprofit aimed at helping donors give more strategically, and recommends Communities In Schools as a high-impact nonprofit working with at-risk youth in the U.S.

The local affiliate, Communities In Schools of Peninsula (CISP), recently received the “2015 Nonprofit of the Year Award,”given by the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce. The mission of Communities In Schools of Peninsula (CISP) is to “surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.”Believing that every single child has the potential to succeed and contribute positively to society, CISP’s programs are designed to equip students with the academic and social skills needed to graduate from high school and succeed in their future endeavors.

Incorporated in 2000, CISP met the needs of 361 young people with ongoing services in 2014-2015, and over 5,000 kids received one-time services. For more information or to volunteer, call (253) 884-5733.