Better Business Bureau Report for
Open Books Ltd.

Better Business Bureau Report issued February 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires February 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...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Open Books Ltd.
Address: 213 W Institute Pl
Ste 305
  Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 312-492-4078
312-492-4085
Web Address: www.open-books.org
Also known as:Open Books
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2006, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Open Books Ltd. does not meet the following 3 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.

Open Books Ltd. 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.

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.

Open Books Ltd. does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.open-books.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.
Open Books Ltd. meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Open Books provides four signature literacy programs to 1st-12th grade students. Open Books Buddies: Twice-weekly one-on-one reading sessions for struggling elementary school students, 56% of whom are in the lowest skill bracket in their classes. Services are provided by a team of volunteer reading mentors. Adventures in Creative Writing Field Trips: Two-hour nonfiction writing workshops in prose, poetry, and slam poetry for 4th-12th graders. Each workshop is led by An Open Books staff member or intern, and assisted by a team of volunteer writing coaches. VWrite: An intensive 8-week mentored communications program focusing on college and career preparation for high school juniors. ReadThenWrite: An immersive reading, writing, and publishing experience for 7th-8th graders. In addition to these 4 programs, Open Books also provides a series of professional development workshops for educators, literary events for the community, and book grants to other nonprofit organizations.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Open Books Ltd.'s program expenses were:

  
Total Program Expenses: $
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Natalie Weiss, Managing Director
Compensation*:
 $91,475

Chair of the Board: Stacy Ratner
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Executive Director

Board Size: 10

Paid Staff Size: 11

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

               

Method(s) Used:

invitations to fund raising events, print advertisements, grant proposals, internet, cause-related marketing, membership
Fund raising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $733,641, 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 Open Books Ltd.'s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions and grants 388,951
Book and merchandise sales 369,598
Contributed books 303,501
Gross proceeds 73,948
Contributed services 41,189
Program income 28,670
Contributed goods-other 21,369
Other income 3,419
Expenses -15,302
Less: cost of sales -283,416
Total Income $931,927


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 76%  Fund Raising: 12%  Administrative: 12% 

Total income   $931,927
  Program expenses $803,361
  Fund raising expenses 128,655
  Administrative expenses 124,910
 
Total expenses   $1,056,926
Expenses in Excess of Income   (124,999)
Beginning net assets   433,329
Ending net assets   308,330
Total liabilities   56,586
Total assets   $364,916


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New Section

               

Privacy Policy: Open Books Ltd. does not have a privacy policy available on their website. They do not collect any donor information directly through their site, they use Givezooks.

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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.

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

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