Confused by charity ratings?

IFAW receives top ratings from the Better Business Bureau, Independent Charities of America . We are a member of the GuideStar “Partners in Trust” program and we have a three-star overall rating from Charity Navigator.

Some supporters are surprised  that IFAW's three-star rating on Charity Navigator derives from two separate types of ratings: the highest rating of four stars on accountability and transparency and only two-stars on the financial rating. 

The reason  for the financial rating is actually quite simple. Charity Navigator only uses data collected from the IRS Form 990 and assigns ratings based upon financial ratios. This system works well for evaluating U.S. groups, but it’s not ideally suited to the complexities of an international non-profit like IFAW which protects animals around the globe by coordinating funds and activities from multiple country offices.  On Charity Navigator, contributions from caring donors in other countries and  IFAW expenditures to address the needs of animals on all continents are not considered.

Charity Navigator provides an important service to donors interested in U.S. charities, but it is unable to capture the entire picture of our international work and structure. Charity Navigator itself advises “we do not recommend using our ratings as the only factor in deciding whether to support a particular organization.”

Therefore, to better understand IFAW’s international budget and effectiveness, please read our Annual Report which provides a complete international budget and provides insight into how effective IFAW in addressing the needs of animals in crisis.

And of course, if you still have questions, send us an email or call us on 1 (800) 932-4329. Call anytime. We’d love to hear from you and share more about IFAW.

And if you haven’t already, join us today and help save animals in crisis around the world.