OKLAHOMA CITY – United Way of Central Oklahoma’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the 11th consecutive time that United Way of Central Oklahoma has earned this top distinction.

Since 2002, using objective 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 operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders. On June 1, 2016, Charity Navigator upgraded its methodology for rating each charity’s’ financial health. These enhancements further substantiates the financial health of Charity Navigator’s four star charities.

“United Way of Central Oklahoma’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds United Way of Central Oklahoma to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support United Way of Central Oklahoma.”

“We know it’s important to our donors to know their donations are being handled responsibly and that the money is helping as many people as possible in our community,” said Debby Hampton, United Way of Central Oklahoma President & CEO. “This 4-star Charity Navigator rating helps shine the spotlight on the strict transparency and financial accountability standards that we follow every day.”

United Way of Central Oklahoma’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. More-detailed information about United Way of Central Oklahoma’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.

About United Way of Central Oklahoma

United Way of Central Oklahoma researches human needs within the communities of central Oklahoma and directs resources to accountable health and human services agencies to meet those needs by improving the health, safety, education and economic well-being of its most vulnerable citizens. For more information about United Way of Central Oklahoma, please visit unitedwayokc.org or call (405) 236-8441.

About Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org, is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity ratings groups combined.  The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of more than 8,000 charities.  Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data.  As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501 (c) (3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America’s charitable givers.  Charity Navigator can be reached directly by telephone at (201) 818-1288, or by mail at 139 Harristown Road, Suite 101, Glen Rock, N.J.,  07452