ELITE LIST: 10 Most Fiscally Responsible Charities

01 GIVE KIDS THE WORLD Ninety-three cents of every dollar donated goes to programs.

Give Kids the World partners with local charities, including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to streamline travel planning for sick children, an often complicated process. Henri Landwirth, a Florida hotelier and Auschwitz survivor, launched GKTW in 1989 after he agreed to provide hotel accommodations to a leukemia-stricken girl who died before the rest of her travel arrangements were finalized. The organization operates a resort village that can provide accommodations for up to 138 families and has brought some 97,000 families to Orlando.
800.995.KIDS, gktw.org

02 ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND EDF spends just nine cents to raise a dollar in contributions; the typical charity spends 13.

Whether partnering with corporations or creating economic incentives to reduce pollution, this environmental advocacy group uses the market to protect the environment. EDF focuses on supporting protection policies that are economically viable, often using cap-and-trade tools. Large-scale donors can open Donor Advised Funds, through which you can give to the EDF or provide grants to other environmental groups of your choice; EDF financial advisors provide due diligence. Donor Advised Funds require a minimum $25,000 investment.
800.684.3322, edf.org

03 COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL Of the 5,500 charities rated by Charity Navigator, less than 50 have earned eight consecutive four-star ratings; this group is one of them.

This Christian humanitarian organization focuses on providing food, shelter, medical care and education to children in developing countries. Compassion International partners with local churches to mentor children, offering practical and religious education programs. The group currently has outposts in 25 countries and has supported about one million children.
800.336.7676, compassion.com

04 TEACH FOR AMERICA TFA has shown a 32 percent growth in revenue and 27 percent growth in program spending over the last four years.

TFA places top college grads as teachers in hard-to-staff school districts throughout the country. The organization, founded in 1990 by then 21-year old Wendy Kopp, aims to reduce education inequality by providing motivated, high-caliber teachers to underserved schools and inspiring TFA alums to work towards improving the education system. To date, TFA has had 24,000 participants who’ve taught over three million students. Numerous studies, including one commissioned by the Urban Institute, have found that TFA instructors tend to boost student test scores.
800.832.1230, teachforamerica.org

05 THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL In 10 years of NRDC records examined by Charity Navigator, the group has never run a deficit.

The NRDC is an environmental action organization dedicated to research and advocacy. Founded by a group of law students and lawyers in 1970, NRDC now employs about 350 lawyers and scientists. Current NRDC causes include stemming global warming, helping China go green and revitalizing the oceans. For the past several years, the group has increasingly focused on fighting for environmental equality for low-income communities.
212.727.2700, nrdc.org

06 MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION This charity spends less than three percent of its budget on administrative costs, well below the average 15 percent that most charities spend.

Actor and Parkinson’s disease sufferer Michael J. Fox launched this foundation in 2000. It gives grants to researchers who seek to cure or alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s, a condition afflicting 1.5 million people in the U.S. alone. To date, the group has funded about $157 million in academic and industry research, making it the largest nonprofit founder of Parkinson’s research.
800.708.7644, michaeljfox.org

07 HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES The HSUS could stop fundraising today and have enough money to fund current programs for two years.

Founded in 1954, the Humane Society is the country’s largest group dedicated to combating animal cruelty. It launches investigations into farm and pharmaceutical practices and campaigns for stricter animal treatment laws. For example, a Humane Society investigation of a California slaughterhouse prompted the largest meat recall in U.S. history and led to federal legislation banning slaughtering downer cows (cows too sick or injured to stand) for human consumption.
800.808.7858, hsus.org

08 INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE Ninety percent of the IRC’s funds go directly to programs.

This humanitarian relief group provides refugees with shelter, clean water, healthcare and education and helps them resettle. The committee, founded in 1933 to help Germans displaced by Hitler, now has employees and volunteers working in 42 countries, including Sudan, Afghanistan and Colombia.
202.822.0043, theirc.org

09 BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY The average charity rated by Charity Navigator spends $160,000 on CEO compensation. The CEO of this group makes $121,948.

This animal welfare group works to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats euthanized in shelters. At its 33,000-acre animal sanctuary in Utah, BFAS provides a home to about 1,700 sick, traumatized or misbehaving dogs, cats, horses, pigs, rabbits and parrots. Perhaps its most famous residents are 22 pit bulls formerly owned by Michael Vick.
435.644.2001 ext. 4801, bestfriends.org

10 WORLD VISION This organization spends just 8.5 percent of its budget on fundraising.

Founded in 1950, this Christian humanitarian group focuses on disaster relief, development and advocacy work in the U.S. and abroad. World Vision has a 40,000-person staff working on projects that range from microenterprise to education to AIDS prevention and treatment. The group subscribes to stringent management and financial accountability protocols including the International NGO Accountability Charter and the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross.
888.511.6593, worldvision.org