Root Capital Honored to Receive Charity Navigator’s Coveted Four-Star Rating for 9th Consecutive Year

CAMBRIDGE, MA, May 11, 2015 – For the ninth consecutive year, Root Capital’s impact, sound fiscal management practices, and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Root Capital is among only one percent of the 8,000 charities rated by Charity Navigator to have received at least nine consecutive four-star evaluations.

“It’s critical that our donors and investors trust that we’re using resources wisely to pursue our mission,” said Root Capital Senior Vice President, Catherine Gill. “I believe that being among the top one percent of all charities rated by Charity Navigator helps us demonstrate that we take our impact and fiduciary responsibilities very seriously.”

Since 2002, using objective, data-driven analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a four-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of transparency, to its ratings methodology.  These “Accountability & Transparency” metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities have “best practices” that minimize the chance of unethical activities and whether they freely share basic information about their organization with their donors and other stakeholders.

“Root Capital’s coveted four-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,” according to Tim Gamory, COO of Charity Navigator. “Out of the thousands of nonprofits Charity Navigator evaluates, only one out of four earns four stars – a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness. Root Capital’s supporters should feel much more confident that their hard-earned dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly when it acquires such a high rating.”

Root Capital’s full rating and scorecard are available on Charity Navigator’s website.

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About Root Capital

Root Capital is an agricultural impact investor that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa, Asia, and Latin America by providing capital, delivering financial training, and strengthening market connections for small and growing agricultural businesses. Since 1999, Root Capital has disbursed more than $800 million in credit to over 550 businesses, representing 1.2 million smallholder farmers. Root Capital’s clients produce dozens of different agricultural products, from coffee, cocoa, and cashews, to fresh fruits and vegetables, to wild-harvested products like natural gums and shea butter.  For specific client examples, see: http://www.rootcapital.org/portfolio

About Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator, www.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.