Better Business Bureau Report for
African American Christian Foundation

Better Business Bureau Report issued January 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires January 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: African American Christian Foundation
Address: 1145 Westgate St., Suite 100
  Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: 708-848-1700
Web Address: www.aacfworks.org
Also known as:AACF
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1985, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The mission of African American Christian Foundation is to assist low-income residents of west suburban Cook County and neighboring Chicago communities to actively foster economic development and build effective social relations that will create opportunities for self-sufficiency, individual well-being and promote community stability.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

African American Christian Foundation does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

African American Christian Foundation does not meet this Standard because its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011:

  • Reports the organization had no fund raising 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.

African American Christian Foundation does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

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.

African American Christian Foundation does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.aacfworks.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.

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.

African American Christian Foundation does not meet this Standard because:

African American Christian Foundation does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.aacfworks.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.
  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
In addition, the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, effectiveness measures, finances, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 6Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 3, 6, 7, 14, and 19.
African American Christian Foundation meets the remaining 9 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Established as a not-for-profit agency in 1985, African American Christian Foundation (AACF) has helped to create employment opportunity for community residents regardless of race, color or religious affiliation. Over 600 adults and teenagers utilize the center each year because they want to succeed. This year another 120 families will succeed and move towards self-sufficiency here at African American Christian Foundation.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, African American Christian Foundation's program expenses were:

  
WIA Disclocated Workers 124,352
WIA Youth Programs 93,264
WIA Adult Program 62,176
Community Technology Center 31,088
Total Program Expenses: $310,880
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Evelyn Mensah, President & CEO
Compensation*: 
$16,452

Chair of the Board: Dr. Richenel S. Ellecom
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Institute for Health Behavior Change

Co-Chair of the Board : William Floyd

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Former Director of the Chicago Department of Health

Board Size: 9

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:

direct mail, invitations to fund raising events, internet
Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $272,577, 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 African American Christian Foundation's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Government Grants 272,577
Program Fees 54,477
Other income 27,123
Interest income 32
Total Income $354,209


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 90%    Administrative: 10% 

Total income $354,209
Program expenses $310,880
Fund raising expenses
Administrative expenses 34,542
Total expenses $345,422
Income in Excess of Expenses 8,787
Beginning net assets 78,595
Other Changes in Net Assets 148,167
Ending net assets 235,549
Total liabilities 307,183
Total assets $542,732


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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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