Charity Navigator Appoints Ken Berger as President and Executive Director
MAHWAH, N.J., June 23, 2008 – Ken Berger has been appointed President and Executive Director of Charity Navigator, the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Mr. Berger, a seasoned charitable nonprofit professional, with nearly thirty years experience in the sector, has held senior leadership positions at a variety of human service agencies including The Floating Hospital and Volunteers of America – Greater New York. Mr. Berger has operated programs serving the homeless, the disabled, the mentally ill, substance abusers, the medically underserved, and persons with HIV/AIDS, among many others. Most recently, he was a Chief Operating Officer of Jawonio, a multi-state organization that provides residential, educational, employment, clinical and health care service to individuals with disabilities and special needs.
Mr. Berger has a passion for helping charitable nonprofits excel, with a special talent for guiding charities through periods of change. He is a regular speaker at nonprofit conferences and has published a number of papers on issues affecting the sector’s effectiveness. Berger earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Buffalo. He went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Psychology from Antioch University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University.
“Charity Navigator is an outstanding organization, with a vital mission, that I feel privileged to be a part of.” said Charity Navigator’s new President and Executive Director Ken Berger. “Throughout my career as a charitable nonprofit executive, it has been my goal to have organizations perform at their highest potential. I understand that the success of a charitable organization is dependent upon having a strong base of supporters. Transparency and accountability are critical to ensuring donors remain committed to helping a charitable nonprofit overcome its challenges and fulfill its mission. By providing unbiased and analytical information to donors, Charity Navigator plays a pivotal role in facilitating positive relationships between donors and charities. As President of Charity Navigator, I look forward to helping donors give with greater confidence, thus promoting philanthropy in general.”
“The Board of Directors was impressed with Ken’s outstanding leadership skills, extensive experience in the charitable nonprofit sector and his enthusiasm for our mission,” said Charity Navigator’s founder and Chairman of the Board John P. Dugan. “I am confident that Ken will make certain that Charity Navigator continues to be innovative, creative, and well-respected in its efforts to guide intelligent giving.”
Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,300 of America's largest charities. Last year alone, nearly 5 million donors used the site that TIME Magazine called “One of America's 50 Coolest Websites for 2006.” Additionally, the site is a two-time Forbes award winner for “Best of the Web;” was selected by Reader's Digest as one of the “100 Best Things about America;” and was chosen by PC World as “One of America's Top Websites.” In 2007, Business Week inducted Charity Navigator into its “Philanthropy Hall of Fame” for “revolutionizing the process of giving.” Charity Navigator was singled out in 2006 and 2007 by Kiplinger's Financial Magazine as “One of the Best Services to Make Life Easier.”
About Charity Navigator:
Charity Navigator is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization guides intelligent giving by evaluating the financial health of over 5,300 charities. Charity Navigator is a 501 (c)(3) organization that accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations. Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org, can be reached directly by telephone at (201) 818-1288, or by mail at 1200 MacArthur Blvd, 2nd Floor, Mahwah, N.J., 07430.
