COA Youth & Family Centers has been ranked the top nonprofit organization in Wisconsin. Charity Navigator, a national evaluator of nonprofit agencies, awarded COA its highest 4-Star rating in the state. Charity Navigator, which is based in Glen Rock, NJ, assesses nonprofits on their financial health, as well as their accountability and transparency.
COA executive director Tom Schneider stated, “At a time when a record number of people are living in poverty, it is essential that nonprofit agencies make the most of every penny donated. One of the reasons for our consistently high rating is that COA spends more than 91% of all funds on its programs for children and families, and less than 4% on fundraising. When generous people donate to a cause, they want to know that their gift goes to the cause and not to pay administrative and fundraising costs.”
There are currently only twenty 4-Star nonprofit agencies in Wisconsin, and this is COA’s first time at the top of the rankings after seven consecutive years as a 4-Star nonprofit. Charity Navigator has also determined that COA Youth & Family Centers is rated fourth highest among all Children’s and Family Services agencies in the United States.
Having begun 105 years (in 1906) ago by sending eight inner city children to camp, in 2011 COA Youth & Family Centers serves more than 25,000 children and families at 42 locations throughout the City of Milwaukee.
COA accomplishes its mission through five core program areas: Early Childhood Education, Family Support Services, Youth Development, Camping, and Adult Education. COA’s Camp Helen Brachman is nationally accredited by the American Camp Association, and COA’s Early Child Education is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Additional information on Charity Navigator’s rating can be found at: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?FromRec=1&keyword_list =wisconsin&Submit2=GO&bay=search.results&sortby=rtg
