SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the first time that SAVE has earned this top distinction, which recognizes strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

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.

“SAVE’s 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals 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 SAVE.”

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using their donations wisely to accomplish SAVE’s mission to protect the health and welfare of homeless companion animals through our six core programs of Rescue, Shelter, Health and Welfare, Spay/Neuter, Adoption, and Humane Education,” said Heather Achenbach, SAVE Executive Director. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.”