WASHINGTON, DC – The Arc has been chosen as one of the top nonprofits working for people with disabilities by Philanthropedia, a subsidiary of GuideStar, which is a nonprofit organization working to help make the public, including donors, aware of the highest impact nonprofits in a cause. The Arc was selected as one of eleven high-impact nonprofits in the disability field by a group of 79 experts, including foundation professionals, nonprofit senior staff, academics, and researchers.

The experts evaluated each nonprofit based on their ability to carry out their mission, their organizational strengths and, most importantly, evidence of the impact they are achieving on behalf of the people and communities the nonprofit serves. According to one expert who reviewed The Arc’s submission, “The Arc is the nation’s touchstone for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. The Arc has become the national center for information dissemination. In addition, its leadership has committed itself to ensuring that Washington keeps people with disabilities in the forefront when making important employment, health care and related decisions.”

Philanthropedia, which was acquired by GuideStar in April 2011, is unique from other online rating sites or donation sites because they use experts to identify high-impact nonprofits. GuideStar is the industry leader in nonprofit data with information on more than 1.8 million nonprofits. And, as an industry leader, GuideStar has a national audience of millions of professionals, funders, advisors, individuals, and others.

“We are honored to have received this distinction from Philanthropedia and GuideStar. For the last 60 years, The Arc has led the movement for improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In order to continue our mission, we need the support of donors, advocates, and dedicated professionals in the disability field, and this acknowledgement can only help us grow at all levels, nationally and in local communities across the country,” said Peter V. Berns, The Arc’s CEO.

To read more about experts in the field have to say about The Arc, click on the Expert Reviews section on The Arc’s organization profile. All the information collected from the research is available on Philanthropedia’s website and will shortly be available on GuideStar Take Action’s website.

The Arc has also been honored by BBB/Wise Giving Alliance and American Institute on Philanthropy and the recently released Charting Impact initiative as it works alongside its network of over 700 chapters to implement is high impact practices in its own governance and management.