The Fistula Foundation strives to meet the highest standards of organizational excellence.

Better Business Bureau:

The Fistula Foundation is proud to have qualified to use the Better Business Bureau's seal for meeting all twenty of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

Click here to view the BBB’s evaluation of the Foundation.

Charity Navigator:

The Fistula Foundation has been designated a 4-Star Charity for the second consecutive year by the charity rating organization Charity Navigator. Fewer than 15% of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator earn the 4-Star designation two years in a row.

Click here to view the Foundation's rating.

"Expanding in a Hurry"

In addition, the Fistula Foundation is also pleased to be the very top nonprofit on Charity Navigator's list of "10 Charities Expanding in a Hurry".

To Quote Charity Navigator:
"Expect to hear about these 10 charities long into the future. They are growing dramatically. Over the past three years, these charities have grown their primary sources of revenue by more than 35% each year. Over that same period, they have expanded their programs and services by more than 35% each year."

Accountability:

The Foundation Staff and Board work together to ensure that the organization's operations are conducted efficiently and ethically.  In order to do so, the Foundation uses the following practices to ensure accountability:

1. Independent Audit:  The Foundation Board has an audit committee, that contains Director Members and a non-Director who is an accounting expert.  The Committee retains and meets with an independent public accounting firm who undertake the Foundation's annual audit.  The Board's Finance Committee review’s the Foundation's performance against its goals quarterly.

2. Board Oversight and Governance:  The Foundation's annual operating budget is reviewed in detail by the Board's Finance and Investment Committee.  Then the budget is reviewed and approved by its 12-member Board.  The Board contains a group of talented individuals who are leaders in their chosen fields.  The Board contains three physicians, one attorney, five existing or former non-profit leaders, and three experts in investment and finance.

3. Employee Compensation:  Fistula Foundation staff compensation is determined each year after a rigorous review of a major nonprofit survey conducted amongst more than 15,000 nonprofit employees in nine counties in northern California.  The Executive Director's performance is reviewed twice a year by the Board of Director's Executive Committee.

4. Transparency: The Foundation makes its audited financial statements and annual tax returns, the so-called 990, available on our website.  For those without internet access, the Foundation will send copies of these documents to anyone requesting them.