United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties Earns 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for 6th Consecutive Year

Scranton, PA (March 22, 2018) – The United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties’ (UWLWC) strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency earned it the highest possible 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator for the 6th consecutive year.

According to Charity Navigator, only 6 percent of nonprofits evaluated receive this designation for at least six straight years. “Six consecutive years of a 4-star rating is a direct indication that the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties’ consistently outperforms most other charities in America,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator.

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 and Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders.

“The United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties’ exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” said Mr. Thatcher, adding that this highest-possible rating is only earned by a quarter of the charities they rate. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the coveted 4-star rating. Based on this, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they choose to support the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties,” he stated.

“It’s crucial that our donors trust we are using their donations wisely to improve the education, financial stability and health of everyone in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties,” noted Gary Drapek, United Way president, adding, “This distinction is a credit to the visionary leadership of our board of directors as well as the careful stewardship of our fund distribution volunteers and a true honor for our hard-working staff that works tirelessly to fulfill our mission every day.”

UWLWC’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. More detailed information about UWLWC’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.

For more information, please visit UWLC.NET or contact the United Way at (570) 343-1267.

UWLWC Earns Coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for 6th Straight Year!

Pictured above from left, standing: Gary Drapek, president and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties; Tom Donohue, United Way board chair from Lamar Advertising; Alex Fried, United Way board vice chair of resource development and 2018-19 campaign chairman from P&G Paper Products and Randy Palko, United Way vice chair of community impact. Seated are: Anne Salerno, United Way vice chair of the board from Scranton School District and George Lynett, Jr., United Way vice chair of marketing from the Scranton Times-Tribune.