Better Business Bureau Report for
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County

Better Business Bureau Report issued October 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires October 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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County
Address: 1100 S. Hamilton 8-W
  Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-433-4927
Web Address: www.casacookcounty.org
Also known as:CASA of Cook County
Back To Top

Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1986, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County (CASA) is the only volunteer organization within the child protection system that empowers and entrusts one adult to consistently champion a child. Each volunteer advocate forms a one-to-one caring relationship with that child, determines the child's unique situation, needs, and interests; conveys those observations to the Court; and verifies the child receives the services he needs.

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

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.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.casacookcounty.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

CASA of Cook County recruits, trains and supports community volunteer advocates for children in the Cook County foster care system. All volunteer advocates must be 21 years of age, submit to a full background check and complete 30 hours of training. Once assigned to a child in care, a volunteer advocate visits the child at least once every thirty days, acts as the liaison between the court and all involved parties, investigates all issues on the case and presents neutral objective information to the court in order for the Judge to make the best informed decision about where a child should be placed long term.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County's program expenses were:

  
Program Services 609,266
Services (In Kind) 49,007
Total Program Expenses: $658,273
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : Lanetta Haynes, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $62,862

Chair of the Board: Scott Stringer
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Forensic Accountant

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 12

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

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, invitations to fund raising events, radio, grant proposals, internet, events
Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $705,520, 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 Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Grants 446,440
Special Events 96,404
Contributions 96,173
Donated Services 41,103
Donated Facilities 24,380
Other 4,563
Interest 3,509
Gifts (In Kind) 1,020
Direct Expense -29,424
Total Income $684,168


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 88%  Fund Raising: 10%  Administrative: 2% 

Total income   $684,168
  Program expenses $658,273
  Fund raising expenses 76,522
  Administrative expenses 17,728
 
Total expenses   $752,523
Expenses in Excess of Income   (68,355)
Beginning net assets   444,539
Ending net assets   376,384
Total liabilities   68,623
Total assets   $445,007


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