UPA Earns Coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for Fifth Consecutive Year

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Palestinian Appeal'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 fifth consecutive time that United Palestinian Appeal, www.helpupa.org, 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, Charity Navigator upgraded its methodology for rating each charity's financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiate the financial health of its 4-star charities.

"United Palestinian Appeal'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 United Palestinian Appeal 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 United Palestinian Appeal."

"It's important our donors trust that we're using their donations wisely to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians, particularly those in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and refugee camps throughout the Middle East, and to contribute to the long-term socioeconomic and cultural development of Palestinian society," said Saleem F. Zaru, executive director of UPA. "Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance, financial accountability and transparency."

United Palestinian Appeal's rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. More-detailed information about United Palestinian Appeal'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 United Palestinian Appeal

Established in 1978, United Palestinian Appeal, www.helpupa.org, is the oldest Palestinian-American non-profit organization working to support Palestinians. Throughout the years, UPA has allocated close to $100 million for projects and programs in support of its mission. UPA has maintained its integrity as a strictly humanitarian organization, independent of any political affiliation or ideology. UPA's areas of focus are health care, education, and community and economic development.

Media Contact:

Saleem F. Zaru
United Palestinian Appeal
202-659-5007
[email protected]

SOURCE United Palestinian Appeal

Related Links

http://helpupa.org