Better Business Bureau Report for
Chicago Urban League

Better Business Bureau Report issued April 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires April 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: Chicago Urban League
Address: 4510 S. Michigan Ave.
  Chicago, IL 60653
Phone: 773-285-5800
Web Address: http://www.cul-chicago.org/chicagourbanleague/site/default.asp
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1916, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The Chicago Urban League works for economic, educational and social progress for African Americans and promotes strong, sustainable communities through progressive advocacy, effective collaboration and innovative programming.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Chicago Urban League does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

Chicago Urban League 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.

Chicago Urban League does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, http://www.cul-chicago.org/chicagourbanleague/site/default.asp, 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.

Chicago Urban League does not meet this Standard because:

Chicago Urban League does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, http://www.cul-chicago.org/chicagourbanleague/site/default.asp 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 and effectiveness measures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 4Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 3, 6, and 7.
Chicago Urban League meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The Chicago Urban League agenda confronts inequalities and redefines today’s civil rights imperatives by focusing on education, workforce, economic empowerment, policy/advocacy and health ingenuity as key drivers of social change for African Americans. Under the League's projectnext agenda focused on economic empowerment as the key driver for social change, they advocate on behalf of: * Entrepreneurship * Employment & Human Capital Development * Commercial Real Estate and Development * Equal access to a good education * Economic growth/empowerment * Fair, non-stereotypical portrayals of African Americans in the media * Access to capital * Ex-offenders * Black males * African American leaders of tomorrow

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Chicago Urban League's program expenses were:

  
Economic Development 2,990,087
Human Capital 1,310,637
Education 523,436
Policy and Advocacy 334,171
CULDC Housing 307,212
Grants and Awards 66,080
Total Program Expenses: $5,531,623
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Andrea L. Zopp, President and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:

Highest Paid Executive: Herman Brewer,Acting CEO
Compensation*: $121,922

Chair of the Board: Anthony K. Anderson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Ernst & Young, LLP

Co-Chair of the Board : Carrie J. Hightman

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Nisource Inc.

Co-Chair of the Board : Lester H. McKeever, Jr.

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Washington, Pittman & McKeever, LLC

Board Size: 43

Paid Staff Size: 71

*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, internet
Fund raising costs were 19% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $7,430,350, 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 Chicago Urban League's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Grants and Contributions 7,430,350
Other income 495,466
Total Income $7,925,816


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 65%  Fund Raising: 17%  Administrative: 18% 

Total income   $7,925,816
  Program expenses $5,531,623
  Fund raising expenses 1,414,988
  Administrative expenses 1,497,617
 
Total expenses   $8,444,228
Expenses in Excess of Income   (518,412)
Beginning net assets   815,573
Ending net assets   224,647
Total liabilities   2,578,909
Total assets   $2,803,556


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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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