BBB Wise Giving Report for
Children's International Lifeline

BBB Wise Giving Report issued May 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Children's International Lifeline
Address: 194 Sunset Drive
  Clay City, KY 40312
Phone: 606-663-3459
Web Address: www.childrenslifeline.com
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1987, Michigan
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to establish a means of gathering goods and funds from like minded people, and to make these funds and goods available to the less fortunate children of the world in an organized manner."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

              

Children's International Lifeline (CIL) does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

CIL does not meet this Standard because:

  • Four (4) members out of the nine (9) member board of directors (44%) are directly compensated, including the chair of the board and the treasurer.

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.

CIL does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization indicated that it did not produce a budget for its current fiscal year.

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.

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

  • A roster of the board of directors
  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.

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.

CIL does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.childrenslifeline.com, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors.
  • 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.

CIL does not meet this Standard because:

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 13.
Children's International Lifeline (CIL) meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

              

CIL states that they disseminate the word of God under Christian principles while providing food, clothing, medical supplies, facilities, and educational assistance for underprivileged children and their families in underdeveloped areas of the world, particularly in Haiti.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, CIL's program expenses were:

  
Program services 2,033,848
Total Program Expenses: $2,033,848
Back To Top

Governance

              

Chief Executive : Donald L. Curtis, President and CEO
Compensation*:
$46,141

Chair of the Board: Arnold Lemke
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired photographer

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 7

*July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were less than 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,244,157, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

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.
Back To Top

Financial

              

The following information is based on CIL's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions in-kind 1,201,643
Public contributions 1,042,514
Interest income 2,057
Loss on sale of assets -139
Total Income $2,246,075


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 98%  Fund Raising: Less than 1%  Administrative: 2% 

Total income   $2,246,075
  Program expenses $2,033,848
  Fund raising expenses 9,674
  Administrative expenses 34,471
 
Total expenses   $2,077,993
Income in Excess of Expenses   168,082
Beginning net assets   231,904
Ending net assets   399,986
Total liabilities   20,127
Total assets   $420,113

Note: According to its audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2010, CIL had in-kind income in the amount of $1,201,643 which includes food, formula, and seed packages ($984,216), packages that include religious pamphlets, toys, hygienic essentials, and peanut butter ($170,464), machinery, office equipment and building supplies ($36,191), medical equipment and supplies ($9,175), and school supplies ($1,597).

Back To Top

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.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity