Putting Out Fires

Direct Relief—which operates the largest charitable medicine program in the U.S.—is supplying fire-ravaged Northern California with pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, personal-care items, and cash. The organization, which was founded in 1948, coordinates with other nonprofits and local public health authorities to ensure effective use of resources. It is also aiding victims of the Mexican earthquakes and Rohingya refugee crisis and has, since 2000, distributed more than $3.4 billion in essential material resources worldwide.

Of the more than 8,000 charities rated annually by Charity Navigator, only 56 received an overall score of 100—and Direct Relief is in the No. 1 spot on Charity Navigator's Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of list. In 2016 this charity earned a 100 percent fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes and an “A” rating from CharityWatch and was named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s 10 Most Innovative Nonprofits.    

BJT readers—who represent one of the highest-net-worth magazine audiences anywhere—clearly have the means to contribute to a better world. To help you do that, we spotlight deserving organizations in every issue. All of them have received a four-star overall rating from Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), which evaluates philanthropic institutions based on their finances, accountability, and transparency.