Better Business Bureau Report for
Metropolitan Family Services

Better Business Bureau Report issued May 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires May 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: Metropolitan Family Services
Address: 1 N. Dearborn, Suite 1000
  Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-986-4000
Web Address: www.metrofamily.org
Also known as:Metropolitan Family Services DuPage
Metropolitan Family Services Southwest
Metropolitan Family Services Evanston/Skokie Valley
Legal Aid Bureau
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Formerly known as:United Charities of Chicago

Year, State Incorporated: 1857, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Metropolitan Family Services' mission is to provide and mobilize the services needed to strengthen families and communities. For more than 154 years, Metropolitan Family Services has responded to the evolving and critical needs of Chicago's families. Operating seven centers in communities with underserved populations, Metropolitan provides the help and hope needed to encourage and empower families.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Metropolitan Family Services does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

Metropolitan Family Services does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Have a voting member of the board who is assigned the responsibility of serving as the treasurer. In general, the board’s treasurer helps provide independent oversight of the organization’s finances.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

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.

Metropolitan Family Services does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every two years.

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.

Metropolitan Family Services meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Metropolitan provides a wide variety of programs and services designed to strengthen families and help them realize their potential. Child & Youth Development-promotes academic achievement and social and emotional development among children, youth, and families to foster their success in life. Counseling-provides support to individuals and families challenged with personal phase-of-life and transitional issues. Economic Stability-provides support and education to economically challenged families so they may improve their quality of work, lifestyle and financial situation. Legal Aid-provides legal assistance in the areas of domestic violence, family and elder law, housing and consumer issues to low-income individuals. Mental Health-provides psychiatric evaluation, case management and crisis intervention to help adults and children with chronic mental illness recover and be productive. Older Adult Services-provides counseling and caregiver respite to assist older adults and their families in meeting the challenges and opportunities of later years. Parent Development-supports parents in acquiring skills that promote the healthy growth and development of children. Violence Prevention & Intervention-provides services to address violence in homes and schools to keep individuals and families safe. Employee Assistance-provides counseling services that help workers achieve a better balance in their lives and be more productive on the job.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Metropolitan Family Services's program expenses were:

  
Child & Youth Development 7,479,929
Mental Health 6,243,976
Economic Stability 3,733,433
Counseling 3,070,764
Parent Development 2,449,396
Older Adults 1,990,250
Legal Aid 1,434,727
Violence Prevention & Intervention 578,408
Employee Assistance 390,136
Public Policy 45,366
Total Program Expenses: $27,416,385
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ricardo Estrada, President & CEO
Compensation*:
$275,000

Chair of the Board: Martha Melman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Homemaker and volunteer

Board Size: 60

Paid Staff Size: 625

*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, print advertisements, grant proposals, internet, planned giving arrangements, cause-related marketing
Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $24,057,510, 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 Metropolitan Family Services's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Government Grants 17,401,669
Program service fees 6,474,862
Contributions 4,795,237
Endowment payout 1,999,493
United Way 1,860,604
Other 692,667
Total Income $33,224,532


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 4%  Administrative: 14% 

Total income   $33,224,532
  Program expenses $27,416,385
  Fund raising expenses 1,388,284
  Administrative expenses 4,731,940
 
Total expenses   $33,536,609
Expenses in Excess of Income   (312,077)
Beginning net assets   40,972,708
Other Changes in Net Assets 7,012,945
Ending net assets   47,673,576
Total liabilities   27,127,900
Total assets   $74,801,476


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