United Community Ministries was recently named one of the best nonprofits in the nation by a trusted online resource for nonprofits. 

GreatNonprofits selected UCM based on 14 reviews by volunteers, donors and clients over the course of the campaign. More than 55,000 people visited the GreatNonprofits site to read and write reviews. The list is highly selective; 167 nonprofit organizations were rated and reviewed by stakeholders and only 58 qualified to be listed.

"We'll be able to use this for leverage for approaching grant makers; it will provide us an additional venue for visibility," said Sarah Stone, development and communications officer for UCM. "Most of the negative feedback was exactly what we knew already: we need more financial support and because of the economy, we see more and more folks that need help and donors are not able to give as much."

UCM is a private, non-profit, community-based social service agency that assists low-income families and individuals in Northern Virginia. In 2010, UCM provided assistance to more than 14,000 people from over 5,000 families. Though the hope is that the listing will increase donations, there is no clear way to tell because of the year-end annual push for giving.

"It's a great honor to be listed among some of the best nonprofits," said Niki Wanner, director of development and communications at UCM. "We give hope to people who have lost hope and we take pride in what we do to help people find a job and to earn self esteem."

Since its inception in 2007, Great Nonprofits invites organizations to participate and be reviewed so that they maintain transparent and accountable to the communities they serve, said Emma Bundy, marketing director of Great Nonprofits.

"It increases the engagement in an existing base of donors and volunteers to speak up about the work an organization is doing," Bundy said. "The reviews are compelling not just because they get them on the list, but because the organizations can use them on their own websites and fundraising materials."