Better Business Bureau Report for
Kennedy Heights Montessori Center

Better Business Bureau Report issued December 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires December 2013


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: Kennedy Heights Montessori Center
Address: 6120 Ridge Road
  Cincinnati, OH 45213
Phone: (513) 631-8135
Web Address: www.kennedyheightsmontessori.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1967, Ohio
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: to create a high quality, nurturing environment that provides children the foundation for learning guided by the Montessori philosophy. Our goal is to enable each child to develop independence, a sense of belonging, self awareness, and respect for self and others. Kennedy Heights Montessori Center strives to reflect the diversity of Kennedy Heights and its surrounding communities.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Kennedy Heights Montessori Center does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

The charity's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2010, did not include 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.

Despite written requests, BBB was not provided with the charity's most recent annual report.

 

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 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 but did not receive complete information on the charity's governance and oversight and is unable to verify the charity's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 1.
Kennedy Heights Montessori Center meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The Kennedy Heights Montessori Center (“KHMC”) program is organized around four Montessori classes: two morning and two afternoon sessions five days a week. According to the charity, each class size is 18 students with one certified Montessori teacher and assistant with each classroom is a carefully prepared environment designed to challenge and support the child as he / she first experiences, and then abstracts knowledge of the world around him / her. The charity does provide a full day program, with children being dropped off as early as 7:00 a.m. and being picked up as late as 6:00 p.m. According to the charity, KHMC provides the children with a day full of activities, while maintain a consistency in caregivers and a ratio of at least one adult to ten children. In addition, the charity offers a full-time summer child care program for enrolled students. It includes field trips and thematic activities. KHMC also offers a kindergarten program for students. In addition to the students daily half-day classes, kindergartners will meet their teacher in groups of no more than ten children, for an additional three afternoons or three mornings. During this time, the advanced Montessori materials are presented and skills appropriate for first grade entrance are approached. According to the charity, students study constellations and planets, fossils, the human body, different climates and cultures, etc.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, Kennedy Heights Montessori Center's program expenses were:

  
Program Expenses 84,773
Total Program Expenses: $84,773
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ms. Marybeth Schneider, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$37,800

Chair of the Board: Mr. Nick DiNardo
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Not Provided

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 19

*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 appeals, invitations to fundraising events, grant proposals, Internet, cause-related marketing appeals
Fundraising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $454,476, 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 Kennedy Heights Montessori Center's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Support 420,346
Tuition, Fees, and Registration 375,205
Fundraising 34,130
Interest and Dividends 10,786
Program 1,653
Total Income $842,120


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 16%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 2%  Other Expenses: 81%

Total income   $842,120
  Program expenses $84,773
  Fund raising expenses 7,635
  Administrative expenses 9,896
  Other Expenses 437,954
Total expenses   $540,258
Income in Excess of Expenses   301,862
Beginning net assets   582,011
Ending net assets   883,873
Total liabilities   11,481
Total assets   $895,354


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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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