Contact: Shelley Borysiewicz; (703) 549-1390 ext. 147

The Catholic Charities network—of which Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a part—has been ranked 3rd among the nation’s nonprofits in the country, according to The NonProfit Times, which publishes the oldest annual ranking of charities in the country.

The Catholic Charities network moved up one slot from its fourth position ranking last year. To be included in the “NPT 100,” nonprofits must raise at least 10 percent of their total revenue from public sources, such as individual donors and foundations.

Catholic Charities agencies nationwide provide a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing. In 2003, local Catholic Charities agencies provided help and created hope for nearly than 7 million people in need, regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

Locally, Catholic Charities of Milwaukee serves more than 10,000 people, of all faiths, within the ten counties of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Staff are located in 20 different offices and provide the following services: Ministries to Persons with Disabilities, Individual and Family Counseling, Pregnancy Counseling, Adoption Services, Healthy Family and Outreach Services, Legal Services for Immigrants, Migrant and Refugee Counseling, and Parish Social Ministry.

The 2003 combined revenue of the Catholic Charities network was $2,858,623,665.00. Nearly 90 percent of these funds were spent on programs and services, making Catholic Charities one of the nation’s most efficient charities. The network’s expenses, such as programs and services, for 2003 were $2,861,694,876.00.

The Catholic Charities network also moved closer to the top 10 in The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual “Philanthropy 400.” The network moved up two slots from 13th in 2002 to the 11th position in 2004. The Chronicle bases its rankings on the amount of private support received by nonprofits. Unlike The Nonprofit Times ranking, The Chronicle’s rankings do not take into account government funding or program fees.

For more information on these nonprofit rankings, visit The NonProfit Times Web site at www.nptimes.com or The Chronicle of Philanthropy Web site at http://philanthropy.com/.

For more information on the Catholic Charities network, including the latest news releases, visit www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org.