BBB Wise Giving Report for
National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States

BBB Wise Giving Report issued July 2008
BBB Wise Giving Report expires July 2010


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: National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States
Address: 1785 Massachusetts Avenue NW
  Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-588-6000
800-944-6847
Web Address: http://www.preservationnation.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1949, chartered by Congress
Affiliates: The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC), NTCIC II, Inc., National Trust Insurance Services, LLC (NTIS), NT CDFI, Inc.
Stated Purpose: "to further the policy enunciated in the Historic Sites Act (49 Stat. 666) and to facilitate public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings, and objects of national significance or interest and providing a national trust for historic preservation."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States (NTHP) does not meet the followingStandard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 19: Cause Related Marketing - Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

  • NTHP does not meet this Standard because furniture products and paint products are promoted through an arrangement with two companies. Promotional information for the furniture products states, in part, that “The sale of these branded products generates much needed revenue to support our efforts. . .”  and promotional material for the paint products states, in part, that “The resulting palette. . . features over 250 historic colors which generate much needed revenue to support our efforts. . .“The specific amount benefiting NTHP from sales are not disclosed.

In response to the Alliance's finding, the charity stated that:

“The National Trust has a well developed product licensing program where products are designed, produced and sold through long-term relationships with manufacturing partners.  The National Trust receives negotiated proceeds from these relationships but does not disclose them for market competition reasons.  The National Trust distinguishes such products from its cause related marketing campaigns.  For further information on our product licensing program, please contact the National Trust at 202-588-6000.”

National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States (NTHP) meets the remaining 19Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

NTHP helps local groups save buildings and neighborhoods by providing the technical and financial assistance they need. The organization teaches people about the benefits of preservation through workshops and other educational programs, including a conference, an Internet website and "Preservation" magazine. NTHP promotes travel to historic destinations through its National Trust Study Tours and National Trust Historic Hotels of America, and helps develop heritage tourism nationwide. NTHP works on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures and city halls to encourage the adoption of laws and policies that support local preservation work, and goes to court to ensure that preservation laws are upheld. The organization works with “smart growth” advocates to revitalize communities and reduce sprawl, and owns and operates a nationwide collection of National Trust Historic Sites.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, NTHP's program expenses were:

  
Historic sites 27,477,383
Preservation services 18,157,516
Education 10,804,770
Publications 2,918,075
Total Program Expenses: $59,357,744
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Richard Moe, President
Compensation*:
$503,523

Chair of the Board: J. Clifford Hudson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney, CEO of Sonic Corporation

Board Size: 43

Paid Staff Size: 334

*October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006 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, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $51,698,074, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
NTHP incurred joint costs of $1,450,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $1,070,000 was allocated to program expenses and $378,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
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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 NTHP's audited financial statements consolidated with its subsidiaries and an affiliate for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Investment income 40,418,584
Contributions 39,870,738
Contract services 6,825,381
Admissions and special events 4,690,447
Grant income 4,097,756
Membership dues 3,039,133
Royalty income 2,203,460
Advertising 1,140,123
Sales of articles 1,098,310
Miscellaneous 1,011,349
Rental income 569,076
Total Income $104,964,357


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 5%  Other Expenses: 4%

Total income   $104,964,357
  Program expenses $59,357,744
  Fund raising expenses 6,571,564
  Administrative expenses 3,477,999
  Other Expenses 2,977,182
Total expenses   $72,384,489
Income in Excess of Expenses   32,579,868
Beginning net assets   242,728,617
Ending net assets   275,308,485
Total liabilities   27,829,733
Total assets   $303,138,218

Note: According to NTHP's most recent audited financial statements, "other expenses" refers to membership outreach expenses in the financial section above.

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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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