Better Business Bureau Report for
Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)

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


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
Address: 954 W. Washington Blvd., 4th Floor, Box 42
  Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312-226-5141
Web Address: COFI@cofionline.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1995, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The mission of Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) is to strengthen the voice and power of low-income families both at the community level and in the public policy arena to create more family supportive / family friendly communities.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

COFI implements Family Focused Organizing through three inter-connected programs 1. Local Organizing Program - COFI works in local communities. We train and organize parent leaders, build leadership teams, and support their campaigns to make schools, neighborhoods, and institutions more family friendly. In its 15 year history, COFI has trained 3000 parents at more than 45 sites. 2. Citywide Policy Organizing Program - COFI organizes across communities. In 2003, parent leaders from across Chicago launched POWER-PAC, a grassroots, city-wide organization that is a growing, vital voice for low-income, immigrant and working families. Today, more than 350 parent leaders participate in POWER-PAC's organizing campaigns around bringing restorative justice programs and practices to Chicago's schools, improving access to early learning programs for low-income preschoolers, restoring recess in Chicago's elementary schools and other initiatives led by the parent leaders. 3. Institute for Family Focused Organizing - COFI is a resource for parent leaders and community groups. COFI offers a comprehensive training and organizing program to leaders and their organizations, and partners with organizations and advocacy groups to foster policy change that improves the lives of low-income and working families. We are committed to sharing what we learn about Family Focused Organizing, and learning from other community-based efforts.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)'s program expenses were:

  
Personnel Expense 330,766
Occupancy 45,167
Professional Services 25,347
Office Expense 22,283
Training and Staff and Consultant Travel 20,830
Program Meetings and Supplies 17,976
Community Service Program 16,517
Parent Honorariums 13,255
Consultants 9,844
Printing and Publications 5,988
Uncollectable Funds 2,500
Insurance 1,410
Miscellaneous 1,077
Depreciation 936
Fundraising 30
Total Program Expenses: $513,926
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ellen Schumer, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$69,214

Highest Paid Executive: Ellen Schumer,Executive Director
Compensation*: $69,214

Chair of the Board: Co-Chair Isabel Tellez
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: High School Principal

Co-Chair of the Board : Nelida Torres

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Parent Leader

Co-Chair of the Board : Isabel Tellez

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: High School Principal

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 25

*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, invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals, internet, membership
Fund raising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $631,092, 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 Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)'s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Grants and Contributions 342,000
Government Grants 289,092
Contracts 58,000
Miscellaneous 44,367
Total Income $733,459


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 7%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $733,459
  Program expenses $513,926
  Fund raising expenses 41,737
  Administrative expenses 59,783
 
Total expenses   $615,446
Income in Excess of Expenses   118,013
Beginning net assets   251,233
Other Changes in Net Assets (21,714)
Ending net assets   347,532
Total liabilities   5,296
Total assets   $352,828


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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.

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