BBB Wise Giving Report for
Archaeological Institute of America

BBB Wise Giving Report issued May 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 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: Archaeological Institute of America
Address: 656 Beacon Street, 6th Floor
  Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-9361
Web Address: http://archaeological.org/
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1906, Massachusetts
Affiliates: Archaeology Magazine, American Journal of Archaeology (AJA), and 108 chapters

Stated Purpose: "to promote a vivid and informed public interest in the cultures and civilizations of the past, to support archaeological research, foster the sound professional practice of archaeology, advocate the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage, and represent the discipline in the wider world."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

AIA 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 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

AIA does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the past two years.

Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

AIA does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, the organization's fund raising costs were 58% ($874,144) of related contributions, which totaled $1,506,577.

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.

AIA does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • The organization’s mission statement
  • A roster of the board of directors
  • Total income.
  • Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year 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.

AIA does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, http://archaeological.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • 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.

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.

AIA does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization shares personal information about its donors with others, it does not provide a means (such as a check off box) in its direct mail appeals for donors to opt out of having their information shared.
AIA meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

AIA is involved in saving archaeological sites from the ravages of war, irresponsible development, unsustainable tourism, and treatable environmental factors such as erosion and acid rain. AIA reports that through its Archaeology Fairs held twice a year, over 300 lectures are held across North America including lectures on the importance of identifying and protecting archaeological heritage to troops deploying to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and lesson plans for K-12 educators.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, AIA's program expenses were:

  
Archaeology magazine 4,073,787
Membership prorams 781,856
American Journal of Archaeology 349,836
Education and auxillary programs 305,239
Total Program Expenses: $5,510,718
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Teresa M. Keller, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$164,296

Chair of the Board: Dr. Elizabeth Bartman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Independent Scholar

Board Size: 41

Paid Staff Size: 30

*July 1, 2008 June 30, 2009 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, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 58% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,506,577, 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 AIA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Subscriptions, net of cancellations 3,369,849
Contributions and grants 774,517
Net investment income 699,312
Advertising revenue 580,323
Other revenue 445,669
Membership revenue 314,017
Newsstand revenue 305,523
Benefit income, net 285,643
Donated services 132,400
Total Income $6,907,253


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $6,907,253
  Program expenses $5,510,718
  Fund raising expenses 874,144
  Administrative expenses 504,607
 
Total expenses   $6,889,469
Income in Excess of Expenses   17,784
Beginning net assets   5,876,697
Ending net assets   5,894,481
Total liabilities   3,797,172
Total assets   $9,691,653

Note: Acoording to AIA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, the organization's in-kind donations totaled $132,400 which represents donated rent ($114,000) and legal services ($18,000).

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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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