Better Business Bureau Report for
Alternatives, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued July 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires July 2014


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Alternatives, Inc.
Address: 4730 N. Sheridan Rd.
  Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773-506-7474
Web Address: www.alternativesyouth.org
Back To Top

Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1971, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Alternatives, Inc.'s mission is to facilitate personal development, strengthen family relationships and enhance the community’s well-being.

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

              

Alternatives, Inc. does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Alternatives, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

Alternatives, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although it has produced a written effectiveness assessment report, the report did not include recommendations for future actions.
  • Although it produced a written effectiveness assessment report, it was not submitted for approval to the board of directors.

Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

Alternatives, Inc. does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.
  • Included total projected program service expenses, however, did not break these expenses down by major program category.

Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy - Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

Alternatives, Inc. meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

              

Alternatives offers Clinical Services and Youth Development programs for 3,000 youth and families each year focusing on four key areas: counseling services, leadership development, academic enrichment, and violence and substance abuse prevention.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Alternatives, Inc.'s program expenses were:

  
Clinical Services 574,982
Family Intervention Services 452,845
After-School Enrichment 301,886
Career and Employment Services 295,327
Restorative Justice Program 178,262
Girl World 164,876
Total Program Expenses: $1,968,178
Back To Top

Governance

              

Chief Executive : Judith M. Gall, Executive Director
Compensation*: 

Highest Paid Executive: Saralyn Peritz,Director of Finance and Administration
Compensation*: $74,690

Chair of the Board: David Levine
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Senior Vice President, PPC Worldwide

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size: 37

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, telephone, invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals, internet
Fund raising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,260,173, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

Tax Status

              

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Back To Top

Financial

              

The following information is based on Alternatives, Inc.'s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Other Contributions 893,602
IL Dept of Human Services 832,923
CPS 224,267
US Dept of Health and Human Services 155,083
Chi Dept of Human Services 70,900
Donated capital equipment 50,000
Special Events 48,398
IL States Attorney 35,000
Donated Services 30,087
Program Fees 18,115
Miscellanoues 18,006
Donated materials ansd rent 7,846
Total Income $2,384,227


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 11% 

Total income $2,384,227
Program expenses $1,968,178
Fund raising expenses 189,780
Administrative expenses 253,727
Total expenses $2,411,685
Expenses in Excess of Income (27,458)
Beginning net assets 798,637
Ending net assets 771,179
Total liabilities 1,216,765
Total assets $1,987,944


Back To Top

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity