Island Harvest Scores Top Marks From Nationally Respected Charity Rating Agency

MINEOLA, NY, February 18, 2009 ― Of all America’s charities rated by the nationally respected independent evaluator Charity Navigator, just seven percent receive a consecutive four-star evaluation. Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, joins that rank scoring four stars — Charity Navigator’s highest rating — for the fourth consecutive year. The coveted designation demonstrates that Island Harvest consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, outperforming most other charitable organizations across the country.

Charity Navigator gives potential donors the opportunity to make educated decisions by providing information on the financial health of over 5,300 of America's largest charities. Its unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the nonprofit sector has been profiled and celebrated in Forbes, Business Week and Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine, among others. Charity Navigator estimates that in 2008, its findings on the organizations it reviews influenced over $10 billion in charitable gifts.

Ken Berger, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator, in his letter to Island Harvest informing them of the 4-star rating wrote, “On behalf of Charity Navigator, I wish to congratulate Island Harvest on achieving our coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management.” Mr. Berger further stated, “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Island Harvest from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

“Contributors to worthwhile causes such as Island Harvest are wise investors, as they should be,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and chief executive officer of Island Harvest. “Because their support is based on trust, they have a right to expect that their hard-earned dollars will be used to further the organization’s mission. Charity Navigator’s ratings help assure that trust is being met and we are honored to receive its prestigious four-star designation.”

Among the factors considered in Island Harvest receiving the four-star rating includes its adherence to strict financial controls and using conservative budgeting practices. Those sound fiscal practices lead to 97 cents of every dollar raised by the Mineola-based nonprofit going directly to food rescue, hunger relief and educational programs — a figure well above industry standards. The remainder is used to fund administrative and fundraising expenses. Health and welfare organizations similar to Island Harvest report an average of 81 to 85 cents per dollar raised going into program services.

About Island Harvest
Fighting hunger and touching lives, Island Harvest serves as the bridge between those who have surplus food and those who need it, supplying hundreds of community-based nonprofit organizations on Long Island with critical food support to help stem the advancing tide of hunger in our communities. Island Harvest has delivered 57 million pounds of food, supplementing more than 44 million meals, since its inception in 1992. In support of its mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, the organization is actively involved in educational and hunger awareness programs to inform the public about the insidious but often unrecognized problem of hunger here, in one of the wealthiest regions of the country, and how individuals, businesses, schools and commercial food establishments can make a difference. Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest). For more information about Island Harvest, visit www.islandharvest.org or call 516-294-8528.