Forbes ranks Gleaning for the World as a top charity

By Dave Thompson

Published: November 21, 2008

A local charity is gaining national exposure as, for the second year in a row, Forbes Magazine ranked Concord-based Gleaning for the World as one of the most efficient charities nationwide.

Each year the magazine ranks the country’s top 200 charities in terms of private support, net assets, fundraising efficiency, charitable commitment and donor dependency.

Gleaning for the World, headed by the Rev. Ron Davidson, tied for first, at 100 percent, in ratings of charitable commitment and fundraising efficiency.

“If an organization, say, has 80 percent that they pay for administration and only 20 percent for their program, then they’re not a very good group,” said Davidson, “and if they spend half of their money raising money, then they’re not a good group.”

Forbes listed the charity’s private support total at $61 million, and its total expenses, $61 million, all listed as charitable services.

“When someone donates one dollar to us, we use that whole dollar to (conduct) a program,” Davidson said. “We don’t use any money from the general public or donations or anything to pay administration.”

Davidson said the charity’s success all comes down to good stewardship.

“What are you going to use your money for?” he asked. “Are you going to use it to pay (for) high salaries or fancy buildings, or are you going to use it for what you claim you’re doing?”

Davidson also attributed the success of Gleaning for the World to a very supportive community.

“I consider this rating to say as much about Central Virginia as it does about us,” he said.

“This ministry in most places could not exist (without more staff),” Davidson said, “and we don’t have to (hire more help) because of the community support here.”