The Westmoreland County Food Bank’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 fourth consecutive time that the Westmoreland County Food Bank 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, they upgraded their methodology for rating each charity’s’ financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiates the financial health of their four star charities.

“The Westmoreland County Food Bank’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 Westmoreland County Food Bank 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 the Westmoreland County Food Bank.”

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using their donations wisely to accomplish our Mission of enabling all Westmoreland County residents who are hungry or at risk of hunger to have ready access to food,” said Kris Douglas, Chief Executive Office of the Westmoreland County Food Bank.  “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.”

Westmoreland County Food Bank’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org.   More-detailed information about the food bank’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.

 

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 rating 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.

 

About Westmoreland County Food Bank

The Westmoreland County Food Bank serves over 31,000 area residents each year including 9,300 children and 3,410 seniors. WCFB currently has 60 member agencies in their network of emergency feeding sites.  Of those, 43 are food pantries in which low income consumers are able to access emergency food assistance throughout the month. Last year (2017), the Food Bank distributed over 9 million pounds of food.

50% of WCFB’s food comes from the federal and state governments and the remaining 50% from local donations, food drives, and Feeding America.  Administrative and fundraising costs account for 5% of the Food Bank’s operating budget.