Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Alternative Schools Network
Address:	1807 W. Sunnyside Ste. 1D
	Chicago, IL 60640
Phone:	773-728-4030
Web Address:	http://www.asnchicago.org/

Alternative Schools Network does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities. Alternatives Schools Network does not meet this Standard because: The board of directors did not hold a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings in the past fiscal year. 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 Schools Network 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 Schools Network does not meet this Standard because: It has never completed an effectiveness assessment. 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. Alternatives Schools Network does not meet this standard because: The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

In addition, the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, finances, solicitation materials, donor privacy, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 6Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 5, 14, 15, 18, and 19.

Alternative Schools Network meets the remaining 10 Standards for Charity Accountability.

The Youth Scholars, Skills, Service program (YS3) provides Chicago area youth who are in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services, are not enrolled in an educational or vocational program, and do not have a high school diploma or GED with the opportunity and resources to attain their educational goals and become independent and productive adults. Integral components of YS3 are student mentoring, college placement, and support for three years. Youth Experiencing Success (YES) provides academic and mentoring services to out-of-school youth. Thirteen schools participate in the program which serves over 300 students citywide. Students are enrolled and linked to an on-site mentor who provides them with counseling, assessment, support services and advocacy. The goal of the program is for each student to obtain academic success, high school graduation, and future planning and achievement. This program is funded by the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (CCWP). The Re-Enrolled Student Project (RSP) is a collaboration between The Alternative Schools Network (ASN) and the Illinois Community Colleges Board (ICCB). RSP provides expanded academic and wraparound services to over 800 out-of-school teens annually through programs centered in community-based alternative high schools across Chicago. Compass Counseling services are provided to 12 sites. Counselors provide supportive counseling to select students, ages 14-24, who are attending ASN high schools and learning centers. This program provides individual, group, family, health and advocacy counseling intended, in part, to keep the participants in school until they complete high school or obtain a GED. Added Chance is an employment program that works with wards of the state aged 16-21 years. The Added Chance Program provides these older adolescents and young adults with a formalized, yet creative, training experience, followed by extensive counseling, actual employment and employment follow-up in order to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency by the time they emancipate from DCFS (usually at age 21). Every year, Added Chance trains about 200 youth and places around 130.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Alternative Schools Network's program expenses were:

School Services	11,967,877
Salaries, Taxes & Benefits	1,881,028
Professional Services	172,607
Transitional Expenses	147,625
Occupancy	146,013
Staff Training	91,134
Administrative Costs	36,579
Supplies & Equipment	35,139
Total Program Expenses:	$14,478,002

Chief Executive : Jack Wuest, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$231,117

Chair of the Board: Oye Kale
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired

Board Size: 6

Paid Staff Size: 754

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

Method(s) Used:

grant proposals

Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $14,879,661, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

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.

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

Source of Funds
Grants	14,879,661
Interest Income	8,915
Memberships	790
Miscellaneous Income	602
Total Income	$14,889,968

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 97%  Fund Raising: Less than 1%  Administrative: 3%

Total income		$14,889,968
Program expenses		$14,478,002
Fund raising expenses		34,666
Administrative expenses		376,098
Total expenses		$14,888,766
Income in Excess of Expenses		1,202
Beginning net assets		213,238
Ending net assets		214,442
Total liabilities		3,704,791
Total assets		$3,919,233