Conservancy Given High Ratings
for Fiscal Responsibility

Charity Navigator is a non-profit watchdog group that helps donors
understand the performance of charitable organizations.

The Little Traverse Conservancy was recently notified that the organization had been ranked number two by a national charity watchdog group in the category of 10 of the Best Charities You've Never Heard Of. The ranking came from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing unbiased information about the charitable sector to aid donors in their charitable giving decisions. This year, the organization evaluated 1,700 charities throughout the United States for fiscal responsibility. Of those evaluated, the ranking received by the Conservancy was for charities with operating budgets under $2 million.

Charities were evaluated through two broad areas of financial health: short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability. A set of financial ratios or performance categories are used to rate each of these two areas, and an overall rating is given that combines the charity’s performance in both areas. Earlier this year, the Little Traverse Conservancy had provided Charity Navigator with the IRS tax form 990 from the last three years.

“This is a great honor for Little Traverse Conservancy and an excellent resource for donors,” said Rob Collier, President of the Council of Michigan Foundations. “Our staff will be recommending this site to potential donors to help them make charitable giving decisions.”

Maureen Nicholson, Executive Director of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation added, “This ranking demonstrates how the success of the Conservancy is directly related to outstanding leadership from its board and staff.”

We urge you to take a look for yourself and find out more about how the Little Traverse Conservancy ranks in comparison with others doing similar work. Visit the website: http://www.charitynavigator.org or to review the Conservancy evaluation see http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/5140.htm.


“This web site gives our members an opportunity to see how the Conservancy’s fiscal responsibility compares with other reputable non-profit organizations throughout the country.”
Tom Lagerstrom, Conservancy Associate Director