The Drake House Earns 4-Star Charity Navigator Rating

From the Drake House: The Drake House recently earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. The 4-star rating is a direct result of sound fiscal management practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency in its efforts to provide short-term crisis housing to homeless single mothers and their children in North Fulton.

Since 2002, using objective, data-driven 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 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.

“The Drake House’s coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,” according to Michael Thatcher, President and 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. Drake House supporters should feel much more confident that their hard-earned dollars are being efficiently used.” Kathy Swahn, a founder and now Executive Director reflects “it has been an amazing journey to create and manage such a worthwhile project as The Drake House. For us to reach this level of rating so early in our history is a remarkable accomplishment.” She adds “We are excited to reach this milestone for our organization.

This is the first year that The Drake House has been eligible for a rating from Charity Navigator. “The hard work of our board, staff, and volunteers is reflected in this high achievement. We hope to leverage this accomplishment to promote our continued advancement in adding an affordable housing component to our programming,” says Holly York, Director of Development.

Photo courtesy of the Drake House