Better Business Bureau Report for
Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy

Better Business Bureau Report issued September 2010
Better Business Bureau Report expires September 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: Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy
Address: 7855 Dawn Road
  Cincinnati, OH 45237
Phone: (513) 761-6609
Web Address: http://www.cleastermimsprep.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Formerly known as:Marva Collins Preparatory School, Inc.

Year, State Incorporated: 1990, Ohio
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Cleaster Mims College Preparatory School seeks to provide a safe, secure, and healthy academic environment where children feel nurtured and challenged. It seeks to perpetuate universal awareness through the study of diverse cultures, empower parents to actively participate in their children’s academic, moral growth, and to develop effective communication and critical thinking that will ensure academic success at the high school and college levels.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 11: Financial Statements - Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $250,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $100,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

Despite gross revenues of $360,639 for the year ended June 30, 2009, the charity did not obtain an audit of its financial statements by an independent certified public accountant (CPA).

 

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.

Because the IRS Form 990-EZ does not require a detailed functional breakdown of expenses, BBB requested an internal breakdown from the organization. However, BBB did not receive a detailed functional breakdown of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fundraising, and administrative activities.

 

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.

The charity 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.

The charity has a website that requests contributions, but the website does not include a current roster of members of the board of directors and financial information for the past fiscal year, which includes total income, expenses by programs, fundraising, and administration, and total ending net assets. Additionally, the website does not include a link to the charity’s most recent IRS Form 990, the annual financial form filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

The charity's website does not provide access to a privacy policy.

 

In addition, BBB requested 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 4 Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 8, 9, and 13.
Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy meets the remaining 11 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The principal program of Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy provides a holistic approach to educating students from Pre-K through 8th grade. The charity seeks to increase reading and math scores two to five grade levels in one school year for students through the MirMe Curriculum, which includes mathematics, science, humanities, English, Latin and modern languages. In addition, the curriculum encourages students in hands-on and interactive learning and encourages value-based learning.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy's program expenses were:

  
Total Program Expenses: $
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ms. Cleaster V. Mims, President & CEO
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Mr. Paul Booth, Jr.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Not Provided

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 4

*According to the charity, Ms. Mims is a unpaid volunteer.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail appeals, Internet
Because the charity did not provide sufficient financial information, BBB is unable to determine what percentage of related contributions was spent on fundraising. (Related contributions, which totaled $53,352, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
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Tax Status

              

This charity 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 Cleaster Mims College Preparatory Academy's IRS Form 990-EZ for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.


Source of Funds  
Program Service Revenue 307,287
Contributions, Gifts, and Grants 53,352
Total Income              $360,639


Total expenses   $385,356
Expenses in Excess of Income   (24,717)
Beginning net assets   812,022
     
Ending net assets   787,303
Total liabilities   1,534,935
Total assets   $2,322,238

 

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