Island Harvest receives top ranking from national agency

Charity Navigator — a national, independent evaluator of philanthropic organizations — has designated Island Harvest Food Bank a four-star charity for the third year in a row. Leaders of the hunger-relief group received the news just before a major fundraising event this Saturday: the 15th annual Ellen Gordon CPA 4(a): Cause 5K Run/ Walk to End Hunger at Eisenhower Park.

Randi Shubin Dresner, an East Meadowite and Island Harvest’s president and chief executive officer, said that Charity Navigator is the nation’s leading charity watchdog. Therefore, she said gaining credibility from the group is important to Island Harvest’s staff.

“Charity Navigator’s four-star evaluation…is a validation of Island Harvest Food Bank’s ongoing dedication to fulfilling our mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island in an efficient, fiscally responsible manner,” she said. “Our financial and in-kind donors’ support of what we do is based solely on trust, and Charity Navigator’s four-star rating helps assure that the trust they place in us is being met.”

Charity Navigator’s objective is to provide donors with information necessary to gain greater confidence in the organizations they support, according to the group. Only 14 percent of organizations they evaluate received at least three consecutive four-star designations, the highest rating; leaders also estimated that, in 2015, the group influenced approximately $10 billion in charitable gifts around the country.

The agency’s report cited Island Harvest’s adherence to best practices, demonstration of strong financial health and “an ongoing commitment to accountability and transparency.” Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, praised Island Harvest in a letter he wrote to notify its leaders of their four-star designation.

“Island Harvest outperforms most other charities in America,” he wrote. “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets Island Harvest apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

One determining factor in the four-star designation is that 95.9 percent of Island Harvest’s annual expenses go directly to programs and services that assist more than 316,000 Long Islanders who struggle with hunger, representatives of the nonprofit said. According to Charity Navigator, seven out of 10 charities evaluated spend at least 75 percent of their budget on the programs and services, and nine out of 10 spend at least 65 percent.

Shubin Dresner noted that while all charities have administrative costs, it’s important that nonprofit groups find additional resources and means to support their programs. At Island Harvest, help comes directly from Long Islanders who believe passionately in the cause, such as graphic artists, accountants, marketing professionals and more who provide their services pro-bono; companies and municipalities that have donated refrigeration and facility space; the nearly 400 people a week who volunteer their time to the group; and the schools, community groups, businesses, houses of worship, local leaders and individuals who provide more than 80 percent of the foodstuffs Island Harvest offers to community members in need.

“We look to the community to help us out,” Shubin Dresner. “It's all about hunger. We may live in communities that are in some of the wealthiest zip codes in country, but in between those zip codes, there are people who are struggling with food insecurity.”

One way local folks can get involved with Island Harvest is by participating in the 5K run/walk on June 18, which starts at 9 a.m. Proceeds collected from registration, which begins at 8 a.m. at the field house near parking field 1 and 2, will directly benefit the nonprofit.

The Nassau Chapter of the New York State Society of CPAs has been sponsoring the 5K run/walk to since 2002. In 2008, upon the untimely death of Ellen Gordon, one of the members of the committee that originally developed the idea, the chapter honored Gordon’s many years of service by renaming the event.

For more information, or to register, visit www.islandharvest.org/event/4872/ or email michelles@islandharvest.org