Charlottesville, VA, August 4, 2020 – Ron Brown Scholar Fund is proud to announce that its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency have earned a 75/100 rating from Charity Navigator’s new Encompass Rating System. This score designates the Ron Brown Scholar Fund as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 8.5 million users annually.
The Encompass Rating System is a comprehensive evaluation tool that analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators. In July 2020, Charity Navigator released the first indicator, Finance & Accountability, to highlight nonprofit organizations demonstrating fiscal responsibility. This is determined by five metrics: Program Expense Ratio, Independent Audit or Financial Review, Board Composition, Liabilities to Assets, and Website Listing. The additional indicators, to be rolled out in the next 18-24 months, are Impact & Results, Leadership & Adaptability, and Culture & Community.
The Encompass Rating System enables Charity Navigator to increase the number of nonprofits it evaluates, growing from 9,000 to 160,000 nonprofits evaluated as of July 2020. In order to be more inclusive of smaller and more recently established nonprofits, the system uses technology-supported automation to analyze electronic tax forms filed annually by 501(c)(3) organizations.
“We are delighted that Ron Brown Scholar Fund’s clear commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency has earned it a “Give with Confidence” designation,” said Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “As one of the first 150,000 nonprofits evaluated by the Encompass Rating System, we are eager to see the good work that the organization is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”
“Our Charity Navigator rating of 75 out of 100 through their Encompass Rating System is further validation that our supporters can trust our commitment to good governance and financial accountability,” said Michael A. Mallory, President & CEO. “We hope that it will introduce our work to new supporters who can help us advance our mission to advance higher education and improve the lives of community and public service-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans and accelerate their progress into impactful leadership roles and opportunities.”
Ron Brown Scholar Fund’s Encompass rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org.
About the Ron Brown Scholar Program
The Ron Brown Scholar Fund is a 501(c)3 public charity, managed by an independent Board of Trustees. The Program which was named for the late Secretary of Commerce and inspired by his dedication to public service, focuses on encouraging civic engagement among Scholars while promoting academic excellence, community and lifelong interactions. Recipients are young African Americans of outstanding promise who are offered academic scholarships, service opportunities and leadership experiences.
The Ron Brown Scholar Program also provides Scholars with the financial resources to attend some of the finest colleges and universities in the country. Upon acceptance, Scholars are each awarded $40,000 ($10,000 per year for 4 years toward educational expenses), that may be used at the college or university of their choice. Acceptance into the Program means Scholars are also provided with the nurturing and mentorship to succeed and flourish in college and beyond. The Ron Brown Scholar Program has a proven track record of academic success with a 99 percent graduation rate. Graduating Scholars go on to outstanding careers in technology, arts, sciences and public service, and many more pursue professional degrees in law, medicine and business.
