SILVER SPRING Md.--For the fifth consecutive year, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) ranked among the top 400 U.S. -based nonprofits, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a leading newspaper for charities, which published the list on October 29.
"ADRA's sustained presence in this elite group of charities is a reflection of the trust that so many faithful donors have placed on us. It also points to the ongoing commitment of those who year after year choose to invest in the development and wellbeing of the less fortunate around the world," said Julio Munoz, bureau chief for Marketing and Development at ADRA International.
In 2008 alone, ADRA received more than $81 million in private and corporate donations, placing the agency in a list of organizations that included colleges and universities, international aid groups, hospitals and medical centers, community foundations, museums, environmental and animal-welfare groups, and public broadcasting systems.
The prestigious Philanthropy 400 ranking, which has become a bellwether for charitable giving in the U.S., grades hundreds of thousands of nonprofit organizations for their capacity to raise private donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
The listing is determined largely by data gathered from official Internal Revenue Service figures that charities are required to file, in addition to annual reports, financial statements, and a questionnaire based on tax information. To determine a particular ranking only private donations are considered; organizations may not include government support. To qualify for this year's list, each nonprofit had to raise at least $47.5 million in private funding in 2008.
ADRA has appeared on the Philanthropy 400 each year since 2004. Other organizations listed in this year's rankings include Harvard University, Mayo Clinic, New York Public Library, United Negro College Fund, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Nature Conservancy, and YMCA.
Recently ADRA was recognized as one of the top 100 most valuable brand names among 1.5 million nonprofit entities in the U.S., according to the Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 report. This recognition is in addition to ADRA's accreditation with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, which awarded ADRA a Charity Seal for a fifth consecutive year in order to highlight the agency's efficiency and commitment to transparency and accountability. ADRA also maintains a four-star rating with Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent charity evaluator.
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ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.
Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.
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