CharityWatch Recognizes Animal Welfare Institute with 'A+' Rating

AWI Receives Highest Grade out of 41 “Animal and Animal Protection” Charities Evaluated

Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) announced today that it has been awarded an A+ rating by CharityWatch, a leading independent charity-rating organization, in its recently released Winter 2014-2015 Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report. Of the 41 charities evaluated by CharityWatch in the “Animal and Animal Protection” category of its report, AWI was the sole organization to receive this highest rating. This is the fourth consecutive year that AWI has received an A+ rating from CharityWatch.

“As an organization that prides itself on transparency and fiscal responsibility, we are honored to be recognized by CharityWatch for our commitment to our donors,” said Cathy Liss, president of AWI. “Supporters of our organization can be confident knowing their contributions go directly toward our mission to improve treatment of animals everywhere.”

CharityWatch’s grade ratings, A+ through F, are calculated based on the percentage spent on program services and fundraising costs for each organization. In its report, CharityWatch noted that 94 percent of AWI’s fiscal budget is spent on program services, and projected that AWI’s fundraising cost is a mere 1 percent of each dollar raised.

CharityWatch’s Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report gives a letter grade rating and other statistics on the financial performance of approximately 600 major American charities in 36 different categories. CharityWatch conducts an in-depth, financial analysis of audited financial statements of each organization and does not receive compensation for including organizations in its report.

For more information on CharityWatch’s Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report, visit http://www.charitywatch.org/.