Highest and Lowest-Rated Charities

We offer the following list as a quick reference guide to the highest and lowest-rated charity in each cause that we evaluate. In providing this list, our goal is to help you navigate the crowded charitable marketplace and make intelligent giving decisions.

Animal Rights, Welfare, and Services
Highest Rated
PAWS Chicago
(Chicago, IL)

Lowest Rated
League for Animal Welfare
(Batavia, OH)
Botanical Gardens, Parks, and Nature Centers
Highest Rated
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
(Pittsburgh, PA)

Lowest Rated
Naples Botanical Garden
(Naples, FL)
Children's and Family Services
Highest Rated
COA Youth & Family Centers
(Milwaukee, WI)

Lowest Rated
Stronger Families
(Redmond, WA)
Civil Rights and Advocacy
Highest Rated
Futures Without Violence
(San Francisco, CA)

Lowest Rated
Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund
(Arlington, VA)
Community and Housing Development
Highest Rated
Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven
(New Haven, CT)

Lowest Rated
Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley
(Milpitas, CA)
Community Foundations

Lowest Rated
El Paso Community Foundation
(El Paso, TX)
Development and Relief Services
Highest Rated
buildOn
(Stamford, CT)

Lowest Rated
Children's Cup
(Prairieville, LA)
Diseases, Disorders, and Disciplines
Highest Rated
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago
(Chicago, IL)

Lowest Rated
Parkinson Research Foundation
(Sarasota, FL)
Environmental Protection and Conservation
Highest Rated
North Cascades Institute
(Sedro-Woolley, WA)

Lowest Rated
Urban Ecology Institute
(Cambridge, MA)
Food Banks, Food Pantries, and Food Distribution
Highest Rated
Bay Area Food Bank
(Theodore, AL)

Lowest Rated
Senior Gleaners
(Sacramento, CA)
Fundraising Organizations

Lowest Rated
The Rusty Staub Foundation
(Peabody, MA)
Homeless Services
Highest Rated
Interfaith Housing Coalition
(Dallas, TX)

Lowest Rated
Modesto Gospel Mission
(Modesto, CA)
Humanitarian Relief Supplies
Highest Rated
Matthew 25: Ministries
(Blue Ash, OH)

Lowest Rated
Children of The Americas
(Trabuco Canyon, CA)
International Peace, Security, and Affairs
Highest Rated
The Carter Center
(Atlanta, GA)

Lowest Rated
Southern Center for International Studies
(Atlanta, GA)
Libraries, Historical Societies and Landmark Preservation
Highest Rated
The Massachusetts Historical Society
(Boston, MA)

Lowest Rated
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
(Washington, DC)
Medical Research
Highest Rated
Sabin Vaccine Institute
(Washington, DC)

Lowest Rated
National Cancer Center
(Plainview, NY)
Multipurpose Human Service Organizations
Highest Rated
Armed Services YMCA
(Alexandria, VA)

Lowest Rated
Disabled Police Officers Counseling Center
(Niceville, FL)
Museums
Highest Rated
Intrepid Museum Foundation
(New York, NY)

Lowest Rated
The Parrish Art Museum
(Southampton, NY)
Other Education Programs and Services
Highest Rated
Teach For America
(New York, NY)

Lowest Rated
Readers Are Leaders Foundation
(Houston, TX)
Patient and Family Support
Highest Rated
Give Kids The World
(Kissimmee, FL)

Lowest Rated
Wishing Well Foundation USA
(Metairie, LA)
Performing Arts
Highest Rated
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
(New York, NY)

Lowest Rated
Primary Stages
(New York, NY)
Private Elementary and Secondary Schools
Highest Rated
Open Meadow Alternative Schools
(Portland, OR)

Lowest Rated
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
(Philadelphia, PA)
Private Liberal Arts Colleges
Highest Rated
Carleton College
(Northfield, MN)

Lowest Rated
Northland College
(Ashland, WI)
Public Broadcasting and Media
Highest Rated
WTCI
(Chattanooga, TN)

Lowest Rated
KCBX
(San Luis Obispo, CA)
Religious Activities
Highest Rated
Joni and Friends
(Agoura Hills, CA)

Lowest Rated
Shiloh International Ministries
(La Verne, CA)
Religious Media and Broadcasting
Highest Rated
Lamb & Lion Ministries
(McKinney, TX)

Lowest Rated
Mario Murillo Ministries
(San Ramon, CA)
Research and Public Policy Institutions
Highest Rated
Carnegie Institution for Science
(Washington, DC)

Lowest Rated
Progressive Policy Institute
(Washington, DC)
Single Country Support Organizations

Lowest Rated
Diskin Orphan Home of Israel
(Brooklyn, NY)
Social Services
Highest Rated
Fisher House Foundation
(Rockville, MD)

Lowest Rated
Children's Charity Fund, Inc.
(Sarasota, FL)
Treatment and Prevention Services
Highest Rated
Arlington Free Clinic
(Arlington, VA)
Universities, Graduate Schools, and Technological Institutes
Highest Rated
Drexel University
(Philadelphia, PA)

Lowest Rated
Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation
(Columbus, OH)
Wildlife Conservation
Highest Rated
Big Cat Rescue
(Tampa, FL)

Lowest Rated
Georgia Wildlife Federation
(Covington, GA)
Youth Development, Shelter, and Crisis Services
Highest Rated
Family & Children's Place
(Louisville, KY)

Lowest Rated
Police Activities League of Texas
(Liberty Hill, TX)
Zoos and Aquariums
Highest Rated
Minnesota Zoo Foundation
(Apple Valley, MN)

Lowest Rated
The Living Desert
(Palm Desert, CA)

 
 

 

Kiplinger's 2007 TIME Forbes CrystalTech