Better Business Bureau Report for
Nicasa, NFP

Better Business Bureau Report issued August 2010
Better Business Bureau Report expires August 2012


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: Nicasa, NFP
Address: 31979 N. Fish Lake Road
  Round Lake, IL 60073
Phone: 847-546-6450
Web Address: www.nicasa.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Formerly known as:Northern Illinois Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

Year, State Incorporated: 1966, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Nicasa empowers and promotes healthy lifestyles to prevent and treat substance abuse, addiction, and other risky behaviors.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Nicasa, NFP does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

Nicasa, NFP does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors did not hold a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings in the past fiscal year.

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.

Nicasa, NFP does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

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.

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.

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

  • A roster of the board of directors.
  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.
In addition, the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, effectiveness measures, and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 7, and 14.
Nicasa, NFP meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

In an effort to promote healthy lifestyles and treat and prevent drug-dependency, Nicasa’s services consider far more than the disease of addiction. They also address its causes, effects and related problem behaviors and include: • Counseling Services – alcohol, tobacco, and other drug risk-reduction education and outpatient treatment that builds on the individual strengths of each participant in order to build the skills necessary to live a responsible and substance abuse-free life. • DUI and Secretary of State Services • Youth and Family Services –screening, evaluations, counseling and early intervention classes for youth. These services address the family unit as an influencing factor on the behavior of youth and also include parent education and family counseling. • Teen Court – an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system that is proven to reduce recidivism among our youth. • Empowering Choices for Healthy Outcomes (ECHO) an in-school developmental skill building educational program to help students make responsible, positive lifestyle choices. • After school programming –includes mentoring, tutoring, and life skills education for at-risk youth in Waukegan and Round Lake schools • Women’s Services – a comprehensive outpatient treatment center that strives to break the generational cycles of addiction, poverty and child abuse. • Bridge House - a residential recovery program that gives men and women in recovery the additional support and resources they need to maintain abstinence and become self-sufficient.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, Nicasa, NFP's program expenses were:

  
Salaries 2,676,610
Equipment rental and maintenance 318,634
Employee benefits 269,390
Consulting services 268,501
Payroll taxes 245,755
Occupancy 93,960
Food 82,300
Program support 70,342
Telephone 68,029
Depreciation 63,949
Utilities 53,896
Office supplies 43,879
Insurance 34,667
Interest expense 34,295
Postage 32,701
Travel 27,060
Conferences and meetings 25,499
Printing 22,407
Medication/drug screening 21,906
Training and certification 13,367
Recruitment 4,291
Miscellaneous 4,129
Professional fees 611
Kitchen supplies 260
Total Program Expenses: $4,476,438
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Governance

               

Chief Executive :
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: James S. Kemper, III
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired, Former Executive Vice President, Kemper Insurance

Board Size: 32

Paid Staff Size: 95

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

               

Method(s) Used:

invitations to fund raising events, print advertisements, grant proposals, internet
Fund raising costs were 34% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $281,754, 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 Nicasa, NFP's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Fees and grants from governmental agencies 4,006,243
Program service fees 1,210,352
Contributions 238,554
United Way funding and other 56,988
In-kind Contributions 43,200
Special events 22,549
Miscellaneous 10,823
Investment income 6,548
Total Income $5,595,257


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $5,595,257
  Program expenses $4,476,438
  Fund raising expenses 96,142
  Administrative expenses 794,820
 
Total expenses   $5,367,400
Income in Excess of Expenses   227,857
Beginning net assets   1,562,409
Ending net assets   1,813,309
Total liabilities   1,318,223
Total assets   $3,131,532


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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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