First Nations Awarded Top 4 Star Rating

First Nations Development Institute Awarded Top 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

LONGMONT, Colorado (March 5, 2013) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) has been awarded Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

In a letter to First Nations, Charity Navigator President & CEO Ken Berger noted: “Savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars. In this competitive philanthropic marketplace, Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator, highlights the fine work of efficient, ethical and open charities. Our goal in all of this is to provide donors with essential information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make. Based on the most recent information available, we have issued a new rating for your organization. We are proud to announce First Nations Development Institute has earned a four-star rating. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way.”

First Nations previously was rated at three stars with Charity Navigator, but has since implemented additional policies that allowed the organization to achieve the top ranking.

"We are honored to receive this top rating,” said Michael E. Roberts, president of First Nations. “We believe it reflects our dedicated accountability to all of our constituencies – our generous donors and the Native American communities that we serve – and it demonstrates our commitment to pursuing our crucial work in a clear, honest and fiscally responsible manner, using good stewardship of charitable contributions while maintaining the public trust."

About First Nations Development Institute
For more than 30 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities.  First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information about First Nations, visit www.firstnations.org.

-##--

Media Contact:
Randy Blauvelt, Senior Communications Officer, First Nations Development Institute
rblauvelt@firstnations.org
(303) 774-7836 x25