Better Business Bureau Report for
House of Charity

Better Business Bureau Report issued April 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires April 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: House of Charity
Address: 10802 Sugar Hill Drive
  Houston, TX 77042-1668
Phone: 713-266-8002
832-545-7773
Web Address: http://www.houseofcharity.com/
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1997, Texas
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The mission of the House of Charity is to help underprivileged and impoverished children and their families to achieve their full potential. We envision a world in which families are equipped with the knowledge and resources to care for their children so they can develop into healthy and compassionate adults

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

House of Charity 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.

House of Charity 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 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

House of Charity does not meet this Standard because its IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010:

  • Reports the organization had no fund raising expenses.

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.

House of Charity does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, http://www.houseofcharity.com/, does not include a link to its IRS Form 990.

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.

<p>House of Charity does not meet this Standard because the organization's internet privacy policy doe snot inlcude:</p> <ul> <li>what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information provided by visitors.</li> <li>how to contact the charity to review any personal information that the organization has collected about the individual and how to request corrections.</li> </ul>

In addition, the Houston BBB requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s effectiveness measures and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3Standards for Charity Accountability: 6, 11, and 12.
House of Charity meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Since 1997 House of Charity has been growing from a medical mission project to a nonprofit organization with an array of social services for children and their families. Faithful to their mission of improving the quality of life of underprivileged and impoverished families they have been implementing projects to provide medical attention, disaster relief and supplies, and educational programs. The House of Charity is working to achieve its goal through the following programs; Medical Treatment program- In 2010, they served 2,331 patients. Women Empowerment Program Educational Resource Center - In 2010, they delivered 5,000 kits containing school supplies and educational tools.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, House of Charity's program expenses were:

  
Total: 217,205
Total Program Expenses: $217,205
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Hashmat Effendi, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$

Chair of the Board: Dr. Joseph Agris
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Plastic & reconstructive Surgeon

Co-Chair of the Board : Hashmat Effendi

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Executive Director

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 3

*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, telephone, invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $238,739, 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 House of Charity's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions and grants 238,739
Total Income $238,739


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 90%    Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $238,739
  Program expenses $217,205
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses 23,830
 
Total expenses   $241,035
Expenses in Excess of Income   (2,296)
Beginning net assets   378,604
Ending net assets   277,955
Total liabilities   350,100
Total assets   ($72,145)


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Complaints

              

The BBB has processed no complaints about this organization in the past 36 months, our standard reporting period.

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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.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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