You’ve decided on a cause you care about. You find a charity doing that work. You check a popular rating website and see a shiny badge of approval. You feel safe making your donation. But what if another rating site gave that exact same charity an “F”?
Rating service differences happen more often than you might think. It’s one of the reasons not to treat a high rating as a green light to donate. Instead, use these ratings as a warning system. If a charity has a low rating or a rating site issues an alert, avoid that charity.
SPCA International
Let’s look at a real-world example: SPCA International Inc. Its Master Key (EIN) is 87-0773320.
I checked three rating sites on May 13, 2026. CharityWatch.org gave SPCA International an “F” grade. At the same time, the charity held a “3-Star” rating from CharityNavigator.org and a “Platinum Seal” from Candid (app.candid.org).
Beyond the Ratings
How can one charity be highly-rated and failing at the exact same time?
Why are the ratings different? The three sites use different formulas and criteria, and we could spend a lot of time discussing those. But I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t matter. The fact that one of the three agencies gave the charity its lowest rating should be enough. Move on to other charities.
CharityNine.org is not a rating service. Our purpose is to gather information for you so you can make your own evaluations. That said, the latest Charity Nine report for SPCA International shows a few things worth a further look:
- Gifts-in-Kind Inflation
- Adjusted Program Spending
- Heavy Fundraising Costs
- Low Cash Reserves
Be the Expert
Stay cautious when you see charity ratings and marketing materials. Use rating sites to avoid weak charities. If you see a low grade or a ratings service warning, move on to other charities.
A Platinum seal or a 3-Star rating does not change the red flag waving from that “F” rating.
Grab the charity’s Master Key (EIN), look past the badges, and trust your own judgment. You are the expert your donations deserve.
Take a look at the Charity Nine report for SPCA International and reach your own conclusions.
More about charity rating services
Ratings services are useful for ruling out, not for ruling in. A low rating is a stop sign. A high rating is not a green light. Learn more about these services in Section 10 of The Best Charities for YOU (second edition) – a guide to evaluating charities on your own terms.
If you know someone who relies on charity ratings when donating or advising donors — this post is worth passing along. You can copy the link: https://charitynine.org/spca-international/