BBB Wise Giving Report for
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum

BBB Wise Giving Report issued July 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires July 2012


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: Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum
Address: 20 North Coalter Street
  Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: 540-885-0897
Web Address: http://www.woodrowwilson.org/
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1938, Virginia
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to increase awareness and understanding of the life, principles and accomplishments of the 28th President of the United States through the preservation of the Presbyterian Manse where Woodrow Wilson was born, and a museum addressing his life and public service."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum (WWPLM) does not meet the following 9 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.

WWPLM 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 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.

WWPLM does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every two years.

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.

WWPLM does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although it produced a written effectiveness assessment report, it was not submitted for approval to the board of directors.

Standard 8: Program Service Expense Ratio - Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

WWPLM does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the organization spent $1,097,030 or 60% of its total expenses ($1,830,158) on program service activities.

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.

WWPLM does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the organization's fund raising costs were 39% ($431,122) of related contributions, which totaled $1,109,072.

Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

WWPLM does not meet this Standard because:

  • It does not have a board approved budget.

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.

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

  • 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.

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.

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

  • A summary of program service accomplishments.
  • 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.

WWPLM does not meet this Standard because: 

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability: 4 and 5.
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum (WWPLM) meets the remaining 9 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

WWPLM aims to provide scholars and interested citizens with information on Woodrow Wilson and how he changed the world. To achieve this, WWPLM utilizes educational programs, museum exhibits, and a digital library to create knowledge of Wilson and his times and foster civic health. The organization wants to ensure that Wilson’s ideas and ideals related to public service, governmental responsibility and international engagement play an important role today.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, WWPLM's program expenses were:

  
Museum and birthplace programs 839,584
Presidential library 183,577
Visitor services 73,869
Total Program Expenses: $1,097,030
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Eric J. Vettel, Ph.D., Executive Director
Compensation*:
$113,024

Chair of the Board: A. Stanley Link, Jr., M.D.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Physician

Board Size: 24

Paid Staff Size: 29

*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, print advertisements, grant proposals, special events and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 39% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,109,072, 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 WWPLM's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Grants 783,050
Contributions and annual appeal 226,922
Admissions 156,810
In-kind contributions 99,100
Gift shop revenue 60,675
Events (net) and other income 14,276
Rental receipts (net) 5,680
Investment loss -131,827
Total Income $1,214,686


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 60%  Fund Raising: 24%  Administrative: 16% 

Total income   $1,214,686
  Program expenses $1,097,030
  Fund raising expenses 431,122
  Administrative expenses 302,006
 
Total expenses   $1,830,158
Expenses in Excess of Income   (615,472)
Beginning net assets   3,889,452
Ending net assets   3,273,980
Total liabilities   375,335
Total assets   $3,649,315


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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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