Fiscal management of Mercy’s counseling program for girls ranks in top 2% percent of American charities

June 4, 2015

Outperforming 98% of American charities evaluated, Mercy has garnered another coveted rank from one of the nation’s premier charity evaluators. For the seventh consecutive year, Mercy has earned the four-star top distinction from Charity Navigator for its sound fiscal management practices and commitment to accountability and transparency.

This “exceptional” designation differentiates Mercy from its peers and demonstrates to the public that Mercy “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,” John P. Dugan, Charity Navigator Founder and Chairman of the Board, wrote in a congratulatory letter addressed to Mercy Founder and President Nancy Alcorn.

Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine have all profiled Charity Navigator’s unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector. Since 2002, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a four-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.

“Mercy’s coveted four-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,” according to Tim Gamory, COO of Charity Navigator. “Out of the thousands of nonprofits Charity Navigator evaluates, only one out of four earns four stars—a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness. Mercy’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.”

Since 1983, Mercy has provided a free-of-charge, voluntary Christian residential program that serves a diverse population of young women ages 13-28 from various socioeconomic backgrounds who are struggling with life-controlling issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addictions, depression, unplanned pregnancy and physical and sexual abuse. Mercy reports that for every dollar raised nearly 85% is spent on direct program expenses.

“We raise all financial support for our programs through private funding, so it’s important our donors trust that we’re using our funding wisely to accomplish Mercy’s mission,” said Christy Singleton, Mercy Executive Director. “Our consecutive four-star ratings demonstrate to our supporters that we take our fiduciary and governance responsibilities very seriously.”

Further information about please visit www.charitynavigator.com.