Cornell has been rated No. 2 among the country's top 10 charities for its ongoing fiscal excellence by Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial health of American philanthropies.

The 10 charities were recognized by Charity Navigator for being "the first to earn eight consecutive four-star ratings demonstrating an ongoing fiscal excellence. [The top 10] are well-positioned to pursue and achieve long-term change."

Cornell was classified as a charity because it is recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt and eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

The rankings were based on each charity's organizational efficiency and capacity, as calculated with tax return information. Since 2001 Charity Navigator has rated Cornell as "exceptional," indicating that the university "exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause."

Other organizations in the "10 Charities with the Most Consecutive 4-Star Ratings" list were Carnegie Institution for Science (No. 1), The Children's Aid Society (No. 3) and Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (No. 4).

For more information: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=100.