Heifer Ranks No. 161 on List of Top 400 U.S. Charities

Media Contact

Ray White

Public Relations Director

Heifer International

800-422-1311

ray.white@heifer.org

 

 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - November 3, 2009 - Heifer International rose to No. 161 on this year's ranking of the 400 largest U.S. charities by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a weekly publication that tracks news about charities and charitable giving.

 Heifer moved up nearly 40 places from last year, when it was ranked No. 200.

The list, published in the Oct. 29 edition, used figures from 2008, the most recent audited tax and fundraising data. Heifer's income for 2008 was reported at $128 million, representing a 22.7 percent increase in support from the previous year. The Clinton Foundation, also headquartered in Little Rock, was No. 76 in the listings with $232 million in support.

The Chronicle report said it expected philanthropic support to “drop sharply” in next year's list, which will rely on 2009 data, due to the worldwide economic recession. It said many of the charities on the list, including Heifer, ended their fiscal years in June before the economy crashed; while those whose reporting included the months after the decline generally showed sharp declines in fundraising.

The Chronicle said economic conditions and their impact on the poor add urgency to the need for Americans to support charitable causes.

Eight charities on the list raised more than $1 billion for the year. They were United Way Worldwide, which raised $4 billion, the Salvation Army, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Food for the Poor, Feed the Children, the Brother's Brother Foundation, AmeriCares Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.

Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in 50 countries, including the U.S., to help families and communities become more self-reliant.

For more information, visit www.heifer.org or call 1-800-696-1918.