Better Business Bureau Report for
Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America

Better Business Bureau Report issued August 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires August 2013


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...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Address: 1218 West Adams Street
  Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312-421-8800
Web Address: www.chicagobsa.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1910, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

Standard 16: Annual Report - Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors
  • Total end of year net assets.

Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures - Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.chicagobsa.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • End of year net assets.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.

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.

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America does not meet this Standard because:

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.chicagobsa.org does not indicate:

  • What personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
  • How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.
  • How to inform the charity that the visitor does not want his/her information shared with others.
Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America was established in 1910 to provide youth with character development and values-based leadership training. Approximately 3 million youth have been served in the Chicagoland area over 100 years. Annually, the Council serves 35,000 youth in the city of Chicago and close in suburbs, through almost 4,000 volunteers. The Council is known for its programs, especially Boy Scout Summer Camp at Owasippe Scout Reservation in Western Michigan. Owasippe was the first BSA Summer Camp in the US, established 100 years ago. Generations of Scouts have attended the camp. Chicago Scouting serves young people through the following programs: 1.Cub Scouting--family and home-centered programs for boys in first through fifth grades. 2.Boy Scouting--a program for boys ages 11 - 17, designed to promote personal achievement and community service through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership. 3.Venturing--a high-adventure program for young men and women ages 14 -20, providing positive experiences through youth-run activities that help them pursue special interests, grow by teaching others, and to develop leadership skills. 4.Learning for Life/Exploring is a coed program designed for youth and young adults from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Learning for Life is a curriculum-based program teaching character education, while Exploring is a career-based educational experience for young people ages 14 to 18 years of age.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America's program expenses were:

  
Employee Compensation 2,089,741
Other Expenses 2,002,447
Depreciation 102,466
Loss on Disposal of Equipment 26,683
Total Program Expenses: $4,221,337
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : H. Charles Dobbins, Secretary/CEO
Compensation*:
$165,359

Chair of the Board: Board of Directors
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Director

Board Size: 54

Paid Staff Size: 35

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, telephone, invitations to fund raising events, print advertisements, grant proposals, cause-related marketing, membership
Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,775,302, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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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.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Investment Return 1,435,308
Total Direct Support 1,350,932
Camping 1,013,492
Council and Related District Events 311,893
Net Product Sales 229,528
Assets Released from Restriction 145,475
Miscellaneous 75,878
United Ways 49,367
Total Income $4,611,873


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 91%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 5%  Other Expenses: 1%

Total income   $4,611,873
  Program expenses $4,221,337
  Fund raising expenses 156,120
  Administrative expenses 216,097
  Other Expenses 53,957
Total expenses   $4,647,511
Expenses in Excess of Income   (35,638)
Beginning net assets   17,579,133
Other Changes in Net Assets 264,743
Ending net assets   17,808,238
Total liabilities   379,639
Total assets   $18,187,877


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