Better Business Bureau Report for
Abilities First Foundation, Inc.

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


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Abilities First Foundation, Inc.
Address: 4710 Timber Trail Drive
  Middletown, OH 45044
Phone: (513) 423-9496
(800) 378-8612
Web Address: www.abilitiesfirst.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1958, Ohio
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: To providing comprehensive services and quality care to each child and adult with special needs to put their Abilities First.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Abilities First Foundation, Inc. meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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BBB Accreditation

              

A BBB Accredited Charity since 07/23/2008.

BBB has determined that in addition to meeting BBB's 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, Abilities First Foundation, Inc. adheres to the BBB Code of Business Practices, which includes a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any complaints.  Charities that display the BBB Accredited Charity Seal pay a fee for review / monitoring and for support of BBB's services to the public. 

BBB accreditation does not mean that the charity's programs or services have been evaluated or endorsed by BBB or that BBB has made a determination as to the charity's competency in performing services.

 
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Program

              

Early Childhood Learning Center is an inclusive daycare and preschool program for children with and without disabilities and special needs. Teachers and assistants plan curriculum that incorporates activities that work on socialization, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, impulse control, and increasing speech and language skills. 

The Pediatric Therapy Program is for children from birth to 22 years old and helps children reach their potential as they learn to overcome their challenges and begin to function more independently. 

Employment services are for adults with special employment needs. Participants work with businesses to find and keep personnel by the charity prescreening and training job applicants, and by troubleshooting the job. 

Doty House in Middletown and Hopewell Residential in Franklin are both a “home” to 30 children and adults with varying degrees of physical disabilities and mental retardation. 

Discovering Abilities is a disability awareness program presented in elementary schools to allow all students to experience factual information about people with disabilities. 

Adult Day Program provides community inclusion, independent living skills, social and vocational skills that incorporate the individual’s strengths and needs into daily living. 

Community Living provides an opportunity for adults with developmental delays to live in the community. 

Transitions Program is for high school students in special education program to develop daily life skills, personal and social skills, and occupational preparation. The program also provides community-based work experience for the students.

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, Abilities First Foundation's program expenses were:


Residential Programs 2,521,094
Therapies 789,103
Day Care 476,376
Adult Day Program 427,818
Employment 424,263
Community Living 142,898
Total Program Expenses: $4,781,552

 

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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ms. Karen Smith, Executive Director
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Mr. Chuck Fortener
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Management Consultant

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 150

*Ms. Karen Smith became the charity's Executive Director on April 1, 2010.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail appeals, invitations to fundraising events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet, planned giving arrangements
Fundraising costs were 23% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $484,964, 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 Abilities First Foundation's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Fees - Residential Facility Revenue 3,061,247
Fees - Other Revenue 2,018,221
Contributions - United Way 199,597
Contributions - Business and Organizations 107,407
Rental Income 100,716
Contributions - Individuals 89,861
Other Contributions 88,099
Appropriation on Endowment Net Assets for Expenditure 20,014
Increase (Decrease) in Present Value of Interest in Testamentary Trust -117,882
Total Income $5,567,280


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 17% 

Total income   $5,567,280
  Program expenses $4,781,552
  Fund raising expenses 112,072
  Administrative expenses 1,005,701
 
Total expenses   $5,899,325
Expenses in Excess of Income   (332,045)
Beginning net assets   4,398,331
Ending net assets   4,066,286
Total liabilities   2,689,383
Total assets   $6,755,669


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