Cancer Coalition of South Georgia receives four-star Charity Navigator rating

ALBANY — In times that monetary resources can be hard to come by, the guidance given before donating to an organization is for the donor to do their homework. An organization dedicated to that cause recently gave high ratings to a non-profit based in Southwest Georgia.

The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia was congratulated by Charity Navigator last month for achieving a four-star rating for “fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.”

A letter signed by Charity Navigator CEO Michael Thatcher notes that donors are demanding more accountability, transparency and quantifiable results from charities. In light of that, the organization’s goal is to provide donors with information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.

The Cancer Coalition received an overall score of 90.78 out of 100, as well as a financial score of 87.59 and an accountability and transparency score of 96. Officials with the Cancer Coalition consider themselves to be “100 percent local” in that all of the funds put into the coalition go back exclusively to help cancer patients in south Georgia.

“I’m so proud that the Cancer Coalition has received a four-star rating by Charity Navigator,” said Cancer Coalition CEO Diane Fletcher. “This is a really big deal because only 25 percent of charities nationwide achieve this highest rating, especially for an organization our size operating in such a resource-limited area of the country.”

The Coalition’s rating indicates the organization “adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way.”

“We are proud to announce Cancer Coalition of South Georgia has earned a four-star rating for (the Cancer Coalition),” officials from Charity Navigator said. “Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that (the Cancer Coalition) adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Approximately a quarter of the charities we evaluate have received our highest rating, indicating that Cancer Coalition of South Georgia outperforms most other charities in America.

“This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Cancer Coalition of South Georgia from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

For the fiscal year that ended in June 2014, the Cancer Coalition had total revenue of $1.15 million and total functional expenses of $1.16 million. Just more than 79 percent of expenses were spent on programs and services, with 12 percent going to administrative costs and 8.6 percent going to fundraising, the report from Charity Navigator said.

A breakdown on the sources of funding showed 55.4 percent to have come government grants, 43.4 percent from contributions, gifts and grants and the remainder coming from fundraising, the report said.

The report also shows expense and revenue trends for the Cancer Coalition going back to 2011, and how the Cancer Coalition ranks in comparison to similar organizations, including the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation.

The review of the Cancer Coalition is now visible at charitynavigator.org. For more information on the Cancer Coalition, visit sgacancer.org.