Better Business Bureau Report for
Gram Seva Foundation

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: Gram Seva Foundation
Address: 2030, Post Road
  Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: 847-564-2030
Web Address: http://www.gramseva.org/
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2004, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Gram Seva strives towards providing health care, education and employment opportunities for all our village communities, thereby restoring a balance of opportunity and quality of life.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Gram Seva Foundation does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 2: Number of Board Members - Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

Gram Seva Foundation does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has FOUR (4) voting members of the board.

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.

Gram Seva Foundation does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:

  • Did not include a breakdown of program service 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.

Gram Seva Foundation does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.

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.

Gram Seva Foundation does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, http://www.gramseva.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.

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.

In addition, the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 3, and 14.
Gram Seva Foundation meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

GRAM SEVA TRUST (GST) is a non-profit organization in South Gujarat, India dedicated to health care and rural development, formed by young doctors and professionals who have rural roots. They share the strong belief that charities directed towards development of rural society positively stimulate the country's progress and growth.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Gram Seva Foundation's program expenses were:

  
Program expenses 225,090
Total Program Expenses: $225,090
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Jay Bozicebich, President
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Jay Bozicebich
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Wells Fargo IT Dept.

Co-Chair of the Board : Khushroo Patel

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgeon

Board Size: 4

Paid Staff Size: 0

*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 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $192,877, 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 Gram Seva Foundation's unaudited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 192,877
Interest income 703
Total Income $193,580


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 98%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 1% 

Total income   $193,580
  Program expenses $225,090
  Fund raising expenses 1,397
  Administrative expenses 1,710
 
Total expenses   $228,197
Expenses in Excess of Income   (34,617)
Beginning net assets   95,272
Ending net assets   60,655
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $60,655


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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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