B-CC Rescue Squad Receives Coveted “4-Star” Rating from Charity Navigator

Community residents, foundations, and businesses have another reason to feel secure that the money they donate to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is being used efficiently and effectively: the Rescue Squad recently received Charity Navigator’s coveted “4-Star” rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

The 4-Star rating is Charity Navigator’s highest possible rating and “indicates that your organization adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way,” stated Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work.” Roughly only a quarter of rated charities have achieved a 4-Star rating. Charity Navigator is the largest independent evaluator of charitable organizations in the United States.

The B-CC Rescue Squad spends less than 4 cents of every dollar on fundraising expenses – meaning 96 percent of donations is spent on operations, equipment, personnel, and other non-fundraising expenses.

Kenneth B. Holden, President of the B-CC Rescue Squad, praised the leadership and members of the Rescue Squad for the rating, and he thanked the community for its support. “We couldn’t fulfill our lifesaving mission without the community’s stalwart support. This rating gives our donors confidence that we are good stewards of their donations,” Holden stated. “However, we can't rest on our laurels. We must earn the public's trust every day and at all levels of the organization, through dedication, professionalism, and integrity. We will continue to improve our governance so that we can retain this 4-Star rating for many years to come.”

Charity Navigator’s ratings are based on seven key areas that assess an organization’s financial efficiency and financial capacity, as well as seventeen metrics that assess whether the organization follows best practices of governance and ethics, and whether it makes it easy for donors to find critical information about the organization.

To view details of the Rescue Squad’s Charity Navigator rating, visit www.charitynavigator.org. For more information on the B-CC Rescue Squad, visit www.bccrs.org.

About the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad

Now in its 76th year, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is a community-supported non-profit organization that provides professional fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland, area, as well as Upper Northwest Washington, D.C. The Squad responds to all types of emergency incidents, including injuries, illnesses, heart attacks, vehicle collisions, house fires, and many others.

Relying on 150 professionally-trained volunteers, the Squad staffs seven “night crews” that respond to incidents during evenings, nights, and weekends and supplement a paid staff on weekdays. The Squad’s fleet, with a replacement cost of more than $3 million, includes seven (7) ambulance/medic units, two (2) heavy rescue squads, one (1) medic chase car, as well as utility and command vehicles. In addition, the Squad's volunteer staffing saves County taxpayers an estimated $4 million annually.

The B-CC Rescue Squad is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the Squad are tax-deductible as allowable by law.