News

First Nations Again Ranks Top Notch for 10th Consecutive Year

LONGMONT, Colo. (November 3, 2021) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) continues to be a top Indigenous-led nonprofit people trust. The 41-year-old organization today announced it has again received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. With this award, First Nations joins the only 3 percent of charities rated that have earned this top distinction for 10 years in a row.

First Nations President and CEO Michael Roberts said the recognition is a testament to the values and practices of the organization’s staff and board. “At First Nations, we do everything with transparency, financial accountability, and a commitment to putting Native communities first,” he said. “Based on our long-standing reputation, people know that when they give to First Nations, they too are investing in the Native communities we believe in, and that their gift is used respectfully, effectively, and honestly.”

Charity Navigator President and CEO Michael Thatcher shared the 4-star rating news with First Nations this fall, adding how the rating sets First Nations apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public.

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. These Accountability & Transparency metrics, which account for 50% of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities operate following industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders.

More financial information about First Nations can be found at https://www.firstnations.org/our-values/financial-information/.


About First Nations Development Institute
For 41 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, visit www.firstnations.org.

About Charity Navigator 

Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org, is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of more than 8,000 charities. Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501 (c) (3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America’s charitable givers. Charity Navigator, can be reached directly by telephone at (201) 818-1288, or by mail at 139 Harristown Road, Suite 101, Glen Rock, N.J., 07452.

###