God’s Pantry earns 4-star rating from charity navigator

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – God’s Pantry Food Bank says it has earned a 4-star rating from the nation’s largest independent charity evaluator. The non-profit group works to end hunger in Kentucky. It credits the new rating to its sound fiscal management practices and commitment to accountability and transparency. God’s Pantry also says its eighth consecutive time its received the score from Charity Navigator.

“God’s Pantry Food Bank’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, only one out of four earns 4 stars — a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness. God’s Pantry Food Bank’s supporters should feel much more confident that their hard-earned dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly when it acquires such a high rating.” Only two percent of nonprofits have received a 4-star rating eight consecutive times.

Charity Navigator says in 2002, it started using objective, data-driven analysis to reward only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. It says in 2011, it added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. It says the “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.

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using our funding wisely to accomplish our mission of reducing hunger in Kentucky through community cooperation making the best possible use of all available resources,” said Marian F. Guinn, CEO. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters that we take our fiduciary and governance responsibilities very seriously.”
God’s Pantry Food Bank’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available here.