Better Business Bureau Report for
Between Friends

Better Business Bureau Report issued March 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires March 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: Between Friends
Address: P.O. Box 608548
  Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: 773-274-5232
Web Address: www.betweenfriendschicago.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Formerly known as:Friends of Battered Women and Their Children

Year, State Incorporated: 24, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Between Friends (Friends) is a nonprofit agency dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and abuse by providing education, support, counseling and advocacy services. Between Friends works with individuals, families, and communities to create awareness about domestic violence and abuse and to reduce its prevalence and impact.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Between Friends does not meet the following 2 Standards 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.

Between Friends does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.betweenfriendschicago.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.

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.

Between Friends does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.betweenfriendschicago.org does not indicate:

  • What personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
  • 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, solicitation materials, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 8Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, and 19.
Between Friends meets the remaining 10 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Between Friends' comprehensive services address the various needs of domestic violence victims and their children, as well as the community at large. Friends is committed to empowering survivors to better their lives, as well as breaking the cycle of domestic violence. The programs and services we provide include: * REACH (Relationship Education: A Choice for Hope) Program: educates Chicago area middle and high school students about healthy dating relationships and the warning signs of abuse. * Women and Children’s Program: provides bilingual individual, family and group counseling, a financial literacy program, direct assistance, and childcare services. * Court Advocacy Program: offers bilingual court assistance in Spanish and English to victims of domestic violence who seek Orders of Protection at the Rolling Meadows and downtown Chicago Courthouses. * The Crisis Line: began in 1991 as Illinois’ first statewide hotline and continues to be a life-sustaining resource for domestic violence victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week. * Healthcare and Community Education: provides domestic violence training to the wider community.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Between Friends's program expenses were:

  
Counseling/Advocacy 535,760
Youth Education 178,655
Education/Outreach 96,164
Total Program Expenses: $810,579
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Governance

               

Chief Executive :
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Christopher Corona
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Division Manager, Bradford Group

Board Size: 10

Paid Staff Size: 15

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

               

Method(s) Used:


Fund raising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,084,767, 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 Between Friends's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Public Support 1,084,767
Miscellaneous 2,159
Interest 1,225
Total Income $1,088,151


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 76%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 11% 

Total income   $1,088,151
  Program expenses $810,579
  Fund raising expenses 145,067
  Administrative expenses 121,596
 
Total expenses   $1,077,242
Income in Excess of Expenses   10,909
Beginning net assets   618,118
Ending net assets   629,027
Total liabilities   77,905
Total assets   $706,932


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Between Friends Comment

               

Between Friends asked to include the following comment: 

Between Friends invites the public to review our reports at Guidestar.org.

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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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