GREENVILLE, S.C.—For the third consecutive year, Furman University has received Charity Navigator’s highest rating in recognition of the school’s fundraising efficiency and sound fiscal management.

Charity Navigator, which assesses the financial health of more than 5,000 of America’s best known nonprofits, gave Furman a “4-star” rating in its most recent evaluations.  According to the organization, only 10 percent of the charities it evaluates have earned at least three consecutive 4-star ratings.

Charity Navigator’s rating system examines two broad areas of a charity’s financial health — how responsibly it functions day to day and how well positioned it is to sustain its programs over time. Each charity is then awarded an overall rating, ranging from zero to four stars.

After examining figures related to revenue, expenses, fundraising and organizational efficiency, Charity Navigator awarded Furman 68.93 points of a possible 70.   Furman’s numerical ranking was the highest of the 60 national liberal arts colleges evaluated and seventh best of all 163 institutions of higher education.

According to Charity Navigator, Furman’s 4-star rating indicates that the university “outperforms most charities in America in its effort to operate in the most fiscally responsible way possible.  This ‘exceptional’ designation differentiates Furman from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Furman raised a record $60.8 million in total gift commitments in 2007-08.  The university is currently in the middle of a $400 million fundraising campaign that focuses on boosting the university’s endowment.  Commitments to the Because Furman Matters campaign now total $261 million.

Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator has become America’s premier charity evaluator.  Its website is a two-time Forbes award winner for “Best of the Web,” was selected by Reader’s Digest as one of the “100 Best Things about America,” and was chosen by PC World as “One of America’s Top Websites.”  In 2007, BusinessWeek inducted Charity Navigator into its Philanthropy Hall of Fame for “revolutionizing the process of giving.”

All of Charity Navigator’s information is available to the public at no cost and available online at www.charitynavigator.org.  For more information, contact Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.

#########