Mote Marine Laboratory’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.
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 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. On June 1, 2016, Charity Navigator upgraded their methodology for rating each charity’s financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiate the financial health of 4-star charities.
Mote is an independent, nonprofit marine science institution dedicated to leading research that enables the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems, while translating and transferring its knowledge to help people of all ages and backgrounds become more ocean literate. Mote was founded in 1955 and continues growing today through partnerships with its communities — bonds fortified by the trust and openness represented by the 4-star Charity Navigator rating.
“Mote Marine Laboratory’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” said Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds Mote to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support Mote.”
“It’s important that our donors trust that we’re using their gifts wisely to accomplish our mission of addressing the challenges facing our world’s oceans and increasing ocean literacy,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO. “Mote is currently addressing multiple ecological crises in Florida, including a devasting coral tissue loss disease outbreak and ongoing bloom of Florida red tide, so now, more than ever, the support of our community ensures we can address these pressing issues in our marine ecosystems. We are pleased to share our 4-star Charity Navigator rating, which demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.”
Mote’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on charitynavigator.org. More-detailed information about Mote’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.
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About Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator, 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.