Charity Navigator has ranked the Chrysler Museum of Art as the #1 museum in the nation out of 296 reviewed in their 2013 annual holiday giving guide. Charity Navigator is the largest evaluator of charities. By reviewing non-profit financial documents, they develop an unbiased, objective, numbers-based rating system to assess over 6,000 of America’s charities.

The Chrysler Museum scored a total of 69.02 out of a possible 70 and received 4 out of 4 stars. Charity Navigator determines rankings based on two categories, Financial Health and Accountability/Transparency. It uses these rankings to show how efficiently charities function today, how they have sustained programs and services over time, and their level of commitment to good governance, best practices and openness with information. Other museums ranked include the Children’s Museum of Richmond at #4 and the Smithsonian Institution at #7.

 “The Chrysler Museum is proud of this great distinction,” said William Hennessey, director of the Museum. “Everyone involved with the Museum is dedicated to advancing our mission of bringing art and people together to enrich and transform lives, and we pride ourselves on our passion, commitment and conscientious stewardship of all that is put in our care. Our #1 ranking is a testament to our loyal constituents and our hard-working staff.”

Founded in 1939 as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Chrysler Museum of Art combines one of America's great fine arts museums, two significant historic houses and a Glass Studio, the only one of its kind on the East Coast. In addition to maintaining a distinguished permanent collection of over 30,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history, the Chrysler Museum offers a comprehensive program of changing exhibitions and education activities for visitors of all ages. The Chrysler Museum is currently closed for a major expansion and will reopen in spring 2014. The historic houses and Chrysler Museum Glass Studio are open. To learn more about the Chrysler Museum, visit chrysler.org or call 757-664-6200.