Conservancy of Southwest Florida Honored with Four-Star "Charity Navigator" Rating

November 13, 2012, Naples, Fla. – Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been awarded Charity Navigator"s prestigious 4-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. Charity Navigator is America's largest and most respected independent evaluator of charities.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida is one of only two environmental non-profit organizations in Florida to receive Charity Navigator"s highest 4-star ranking, and one of only 98 environmental non-profits nationwide to achieve that distinction. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation was also elevated to a 4-star rating during the November 6 announcements.

"Being honored with Charity Navigator"s highest rating provides our supporters the assurance that we properly steward their investment and belief in us to protect the water, land, wildlife and future in the region," said Andrew McElwaine, Conservancy president.

McElwaine continued, "The Charity Navigator recognition comes on top of two other recent awards for the Conservancy. Rob Moher, vice-president of marketing and development was honored as ‘Fundraiser of the Year" from The Association of Fundraising Professionals (Everglades Chapter) and the Naples Chamber of Commerce recognized the Conservancy as its ‘Business of the Month" in November."

In a letter announcing the 4-star rating, Charity Navigator President & CEO Ken Berger wrote in part that, in receiving the highest possible rating, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida "adheres to good governance and other best practices and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way."

Charity Navigator works to help charitable donors make intelligent giving decisions by providing information on more than 5,000 charities nationwide and by evaluating their financial health. It is estimated that last year Charity Navigator influenced approximately $10 billion in charitable gifts. To learn more visit www.charitynavigator.org.

About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida began in 1964 when community leaders came together to defeat a proposed "Road to Nowhere" and spearheaded the acquisition and protection of Rookery Bay. The Conservancy is a grassroots organization focused on the critical environmental issues of the Southwest Florida region --- our water, land and wildlife. This is accomplished through the synergies of environmental education, science, policy, environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital treats in excess of 3,200 injured, sick and orphaned animals per year and releases about half back into their native habitats.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Conservancy Nature Center are located in Naples, FL at 1450 Merrihue Drive, off Goodlette-Frank Road at 14th Avenue North. Its new entrance, Smith Preserve Way, is located just south of the Naples Zoo from Goodlette-Frank Road.