Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium (Mote) is proud to announce that it has earned 4/4 stars by Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, in recognition of its financial health, ongoing accountability, and transparency of how its funds are allocated.
This rating designates Mote as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that Mote is using its donations responsibly and effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria.
Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually. It helps charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions by providing in-depth, objective ratings and analysis of the financial health and accountability and transparency of America’s largest charities.
“We are delighted to provide Mote with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that Mote is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”
“Our Four-Star Charity Navigator Award is further validation that our supporters can trust our commitment to good governance and financial health,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President and CEO. “For nearly seven decades, Mote has worked to advance ocean conservation and sustainability for generations to come through world-class research and innovation. Philanthropy plays a vital role fueling a great deal of Mote’s pioneering work.”
Mote’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on charitynavigator.org.
About Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a nearly 70-year legacy as an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)3 global marine research and science education institution. Mote began in 1955 and flourished on the foundational pillars of “Passion, Partnership and Philanthropy” – the passion of a single researcher, Dr. Eugenie Clark, her partnership with the community and philanthropic support, first of the Vanderbilt family, later with the significant support and guidance of the William R. Mote family, and today through donations by thousands of individuals who believe in the mission of Mote.
Today, Mote has grown into eight campuses stretching from Tampa Bay to Key West, with a ninth new campus, the Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), currently under construction. Mote has more than 25 diverse world-class research programs studying oceans locally and internationally, with an emphasis on positively impacting conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. The current Mote Aquarium in Sarasota showcases Mote Research and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 pm, 365 days a year. Learn more at mote.org.