For the 12th year in a row, the University of Miami has achieved Charity Navigator’s four-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency—the highest-possible score from an organization recognized as one of the nation’s premier charity evaluators. The rating comes on the heels of the institution’s reaching the $1 billion mark in its Momentum2 fundraising campaign.

“We are very pleased to receive this significant designation for the 12^th consecutive year,” said Sergio M. Gonzalez, senior vice president for University Advancement and External Affairs at UM. “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator affirms that the University is a good steward of the gifts we receive from our many supporters.”

Supporters of the University of Miami range from dedicated philanthropists who have provided steady and generous support over many years to recent graduates just starting out in their careers. Some are longtime staff members, parents of current students, and members of the local community, while others include the institution’s more than 157,000 living alumni. Foundations, businesses, and other enterprises whose missions complement those of the University are also key supporters.

Fewer than 1 percent of charities rated by Charity Navigator have received four-star rating for 12 consecutive years, an indicator that the “University of Miami outperforms most other charities in America,” Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, wrote in a congratulatory letter addressed to UM President Donna E. Shalala.

Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine have all profiled Charity Navigator’s unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector.

Based on information provided in IRS form 990, Charity Navigator analyzed UM’s performance in seven financial metrics: program expenses, administrative expenses, fundraising expenses, fundraising efficiency, primary revenue growth, program expenses growth, and working capital ratio. It also evaluated the institution in several accountability and transparency performance metrics, giving the University an overall rating of 60.09 on a scale of 0-70.

With the recent four-star rating, UM continues to ride a crest of major achievements. The University, for example, has been ranked in the top 50 in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges issue, coming in as the highest-ranked school in Florida.