Syracuse, NY (October 7, 2011) Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator, has awarded the Near East Foundation (NEF) a four-star rating – their highest award.

The rating is determined by evaluating a combination of the financial health, accountability, and transparency of an organization.

The majority of NEF funding – nearly 90% – is devoted to program expenses, an important indicator of administrative and financial efficiency.

With an annual budget of around $5 million, NEF implements programs in seven countries through the efforts of over 70 staff members, who all work in their native countries.

The Charity Navigator rating system was designed to recognize that “the highest performing charities are those that excel in all areas, not just one.”

In recent years, NEF has reduced U.S. costs by 50% by relocating to the campus of Syracuse University and decreasing its U.S. administrative staff to three full-time positions.  These actions have also strengthened NEF’s ability to develop exciting new programs overseas.

For more information about NEF visit www.neareast.org.

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The Near East Foundation is a U.S.-based international development NGO leading innovative social and economic change in the Middle East and Africa.  Founded in 1915, NEF has worked to empower citizens in disadvantaged, vulnerable communities for almost 100 years.  NEF field staff – all of them from the countries in which they work – partner with local organizations to find grassroots solutions to their development challenges. Our comprehensive “knowledge, voice, and enterprise” approach is helping build more prosperous, inclusive communities throughout the region.