BBB Wise Giving Report for
Tibetan Aid Project

BBB Wise Giving Report issued September 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires September 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: Tibetan Aid Project
Address: 2210 Harold Way
  Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 800-338-4238
510-848-4238
Web Address: www.tibetanaidproject.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1974, California
Affiliates: 4 chapters
Stated Purpose: "to receive contributions and distribute funds for the welfare of the Tibetan people in exile and to preserve the Tibetan Buddhist tradition."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Tibetan Aid Project (TAP) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 11: Financial Statements - Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $250,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $100,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

TAP does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization's gross income from the general public is  greater than $250,000, it states that it does not have audited financial statements for the past year.
Tibetan Aid Project (TAP) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

TAP funds the production, shipment, and distribution of sacred texts, art, and prayer wheels for donation to monasteries and individuals at the annual World Peace Ceremony. Books, prayer wheel text, and art reproductions are produced by volunteer labor in Northern California. The organization reports that it contributes $18,000 per month to production expenses. TAP ships materials to Bodh Gaya, India to be distributed at the annual World Peace Ceremony. The organization states that it has shipped 3 million books, 123,000 prayer wheels and 4 million sacred art prints to libraries throughout the Himalayan region. In 2010, TAP provided funds for earthquake relief in Tibet.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, TAP's program expenses were:

  
Programs 405,840
Total Program Expenses: $405,840
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Rosalyn White, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 None

Chair of the Board: Tarthang Tulku
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Tibetan teacher

Board Size: 6

Paid Staff Size: 0

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. The organization reports that Rosalyn White receives no compensation.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 19% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $408,361, 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 TAP's unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 303,593
Special events (net) 89,351
In-kind donations 15,417
Investment income 2,226
Sales 1,892
Royalties 300
Loss on abandonment of leasehold improvements -4,612
Total Income $408,167


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 75%  Fund Raising: 15%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $408,167
  Program expenses $405,840
  Fund raising expenses 78,906
  Administrative expenses 55,736
 
Total expenses   $540,482
Expenses in Excess of Income   (132,315)
Beginning net assets   250,153
Ending net assets   117,838
Total liabilities   106,237
Total assets   $224,075

Note: TAP received $15,417 of in-kind contributions, including office space ($11,916) and website design ($3,500).

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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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