For the third year in a row, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International has earned a coveted four-star rating from the largest independent evaluator of charities in the United States.

Only nine percent of the more than 5,000 charitable organizations Charity Navigator evaluates annually to ensure a judicious use of donations have received at least three consecutive four-star ratings, a Charity Navigator executive said. The organization announced ADRA’s rating in a January 30 letter.

“ADRA outperforms most charities in America in its efforts to operate in the most fiscally responsible way possible,” said Michael Smith, interim president and chief operating officer for Charity Navigator. “This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates ADRA from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Charity Navigator’s zero to four ranking system measures a charity’s financial health in two areas: how responsibly it carries out daily operations and how well positioned it is to sustain those operations.

ADRA president Charles Sandefur said ADRA was both honored and humbled to receive Charity Navigator’s highest rating for a third straight year.

“This continued external recognition affirms just how much we appreciate and value our donors,” Sandefur said. “We treat them and their contributions with the utmost respect, making sure that as much of their gifts as possible go directly towards ADRA’s humanitarian services.”

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

For more information see www.adra.org or www.charitynavigator.org.