The Center for Enriched Living Earns Highest Designation from Charity Navigator

The Center for Enriched Living’s (CEL) sound fiscal management practices and transparency have once again earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-used independent evaluator of charities. This is the second consecutive year that CEL has earned this designation, showing the organization uses donor dollars to advance its mission in the most fiscally responsible way.

“CEL’s coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & 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. CEL’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 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.

“It’s an honor to receive this designation recognizing our commitment to providing our donors, members and all stakeholders with both accountability and transparency,” says Harriet Levy, executive director. “This distinction reflects the diligence of our outstanding board and staff who work daily to ensure that we incorporate the best business practices and that we’re using our funds wisely towards our vision of a future where every person with a developmental disability is an equal, valued and contributing member of the community.”

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

About the Center for Enriched Living

The Center for Enriched Living enhances and enriches the lives of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities – from youth through adulthood. CEL provides a space for our members to grow and learn new social, educational and independent living skills with a community of friends and a world of opportunities. More information available at www.CenterForEnrichedLiving.org.

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.