For the third year, STEP is awarded a 4-Star from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator. The 4-star rating is a result of STEP maintaining sound fiscal management practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency in our efforts to ensure all of Southern California's junior enlisted service members, and transitioning veterans, have a place to turn when in financial crisis.
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.
“Support The Enlisted Project's 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, onlyone out of four earns 4 stars -- a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness. STEP supporters should feel much more confident that their hard-earned dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly when it acquires such a high rating.”
We are proud of the work we do together and value the gifts given to make that work possible. Thank you Charity Navigator for this recognition and to all of you who make it possible to serve our nations heroes.