The College Crusade of Rhode Island, the state’s most comprehensive college access program, has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This highest rating reflects the College Crusade’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating, and only a quarter of charities it rates receive this distinction. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics focused on governance, ethical practices and measures of openness to its ratings methodology. These metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are transparent with their donors and stakeholders.

The College Crusade has received a 4-star rating in seven of the last 10 years. “The College Crusade of Rhode Island’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “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 the College Crusade.”

“Our donors and partners make it possible for us to prepare and inspire young people in Rhode Island to become the first in their families to attend and complete college,” said Andrew Bramson, president and CEO of the College Crusade of Rhode Island. “It’s important that our donors trust that we’re using their contributions wisely, and our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates our good governance and financial accountability.”

The College Crusade’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. Charity Navigator’s website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the financial health and accountability and transparency of more than 8,000 charities. The 501(c)(3) public charity accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data.

The College Crusade, Rhode Island’s largest college access program, supports about 4,000 first-generation, low-income students in middle school, high school and college each year with the one-on-one advising and year-round programs that focus on academic enrichment, social and emotional development, career education, and postsecondary preparation. The College Crusade also has awarded over $43 million in college scholarships to more than 5,000 Rhode Island students since 2001. Sixth-graders who attend traditional public schools and select public charter schools in Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket and West Warwick are eligible to enroll in the College Crusade.