BBB Wise Giving Report for
International Myeloma Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued October 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires October 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: International Myeloma Foundation
Address: 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206
  North Hollywood, CA 91607
Phone: 818-487-7455
Web Address: www.myeloma.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1990, California
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to improve the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) does not meet the following 3 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.

IMF does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the board of directors held three meetings for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, the meetings were not evenly spaced.

Standard 4: Compensated Board Members - Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

IMF does not meet this Standard because:

  •  2 members out of the 16 member board of directors (13%), are paid staff.  In addition, one of these paid members is the chair of the board. 

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).

IMF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has cause-related marketing promotions on its website that indicate a portion of purchases will benefit the organization, however, these promotions do not disclose the specific amount or the anticipated percentage of the purchase price that will benefit the charity.
International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

IMF provides education about myeloma to patients, nurses, doctors, and others; through a national network of support groups and a toll-free hotline, provides support to anyone affected by the disease; performs clinical research and funds laboratory research; and advocates on behalf of myeloma patients for improved care and quality of life.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, IMF's program expenses were:

  
Patient and family seminars 1,123,439
Research 999,914
Education and awareness 701,461
International 623,670
Support groups 569,206
Nurse 544,830
Clinical meetings 463,384
Advocacy 395,671
Hotline 345,862
Website 225,198
Bank On A Cure 219,079
Myeloma Today 213,785
Information mailings 148,305
Public relations 107,275
Myeloma manager 53,049
Total Program Expenses: $6,734,128
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Susan Novis, President
Compensation*:
$204,508

Chair of the Board: Brian G.M. Durie, M.D.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Professor of Medicine--Hematologist/Oncologist, Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 27

*October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010 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, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $8,633,624, 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 IMF's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Educational grants 5,689,636
General contributions 2,409,165
Fundraising events, net 352,673
Donated services 182,150
Seminar fees and support group income 61,847
Interest income 8,315
Total Income $8,703,786


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 87%  Fund Raising: 7%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $8,703,786
  Program expenses $6,734,128
  Fund raising expenses 512,943
  Administrative expenses 496,349
 
Total expenses   $7,743,420
Income in Excess of Expenses   960,366
Beginning net assets   (17,713)
Ending net assets   942,653
Total liabilities   2,399,814
Total assets   $3,342,467

Note: According to IMF, the organization received in-kind contributions in the amount of $182,150, consisting of donated physician services.

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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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