BBB Wise Giving Report for
Big City Mountaineers

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: Big City Mountaineers
Address: 1667 Vine Street
  Denver, CO 80206
Phone: 303-271-9200
Web Address: www.bigcitymountaineers.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1990, Colorado
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to enhance the lives of under-resourced urban teens through transformative outdoor experiences."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Big City Mountaineers (BCM) does not meet the following Standard 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.

BCM does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings of the full governing board in 2010.
BCM meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

BCM aims to change the lives of under-served urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions to instill critical life skills. The organization works with community-based partner organizations and adult volunteers who act as mentors in the field to help young people realize their potential. BCM reports that its curriculum improves integrity, self-esteem, responsibility, decision-making abilities and communication skills in more than 600 youth annually. BCM delivers programs in four regions of the country, including the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization reports that its works with 1,200 program participants, 400 volunteers, and about two dozen youth agencies, while logging 23,000 volunteer hours in the field with BCM young people.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, BCM's program expenses were:

  
Program services 649,691
Total Program Expenses: $649,691
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Lisa Mattis, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $90,000

Chair of the Board: Jeff Weidman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Principal, Heiden/Weidman Group

Board Size: 18

Paid Staff Size: 12

*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, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $858,637, 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 BCM's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 420,340
Gift in-kind contributions 263,924
Net revenue, Summit for Someone 174,373
Program income 31,609
Investment and other income 12,404
Total Income $902,650


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 75%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 16% 

Total income   $902,650
  Program expenses $649,691
  Fund raising expenses 79,905
  Administrative expenses 137,661
 
Total expenses   $867,257
Income in Excess of Expenses   35,393
Beginning net assets   494,417
Ending net assets   529,810
Total liabilities   23,237
Total assets   $553,047


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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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