On the heels of being ranked the top nonprofit organization in Wisconsin across all categories in September, COA Youth & Family Centers is now the number one Children’s & Family Services agency in the nation, according to Charity Navigator. Based in Glen Rock, NJ, Charity Navigator assesses nonprofits on their financial health, accountability and transparency.
COA executive director Tom Schneider stated, “Now more than ever, donors want to know that their generosity is going to support kids and families in need, not to administration and fundraising costs. COA has balanced its budget for ten straight years, spends less than ten percent of its revenue on management and fundraising, and has had clean audits year after year. Charity Navigator’s rating means donors can be confident that their money will be spent to help people in need.”
According to the Charity Navigator website: “Charity Navigator works to guide intelligent giving. Our goal is to help people give to charity with confidence. At the same time, we aim to help charities by shining lights on truly effective organizations.” In Wisconsin there are thousands of nonprofit agencies, but only eight in Milwaukee received a 4-Star rating. In descending order they are: COA Youth & Family Centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, Medical College of Wisconsin, Public Allies, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, PAVE, and the Wisconsin Humane Society.
Having begun 105 years 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 and the recipient of a Five-Star rating from Wisconsin’s YoungStar program.
