BBB Wise Giving Report for
Kiwanis International Foundation

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: Kiwanis International Foundation
Address: 3636 Woodview Trace
  Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone: 317-875-8755
800-549-2647
Web Address: www.kiwanis.org/kif
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1939, Illinois
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to assist and engage in all activities which support and further the charitable purposes of Kiwanis International, Inc. and of Kiwanis sponsored affiliates."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Kiwanis International Foundation (KIF) does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

KIF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

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.

KIF does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the past two years, and does not have one planned for the near future.

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

KIF does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the organization spent $1,433,651 or 42% of its total expenses ($3,420,905) on program service activities.

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.

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

  • The organization’s mission statement
  • A summary of program service accomplishments.
  • A roster of the board of directors

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.

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

  • 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.

KIF does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.kiwanis.org/kif does not indicate:

  • How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 15.
Kiwanis International Foundation (KIF) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The Kiwanis International Foundation provides funding for grants to its clubs primarily for projects and services helping underserved children throughout the world. The organization also funds scholarships, merit awards and limited disaster relief.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, KIF's program expenses were:

  
Program services 1,433,651
Total Program Expenses: $1,433,651
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Linda Brimmer, Executive Director
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Elmer Austermann, Jr.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Chairman of the Board, Sun Security Bank of America

Board Size: 19

Paid Staff Size: 6

*October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. Compensation information for Ms. Brimmer is not available. The former Executive Director, Johnny Sloan, was compensated $111,658 during this time period.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,453,981, 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 KIF's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 3,210,775
In-kind 243,206
Investment income (net) 75,738
Total Income $3,529,719


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 42%  Fund Raising: 18%  Administrative: 40% 

Total income   $3,529,719
  Program expenses $1,433,651
  Fund raising expenses 605,186
  Administrative expenses 1,382,068
 
Total expenses   $3,420,905
Income in Excess of Expenses   108,814
Beginning net assets   10,111,183
Other Changes in Net Assets 33,368
Ending net assets   10,253,365
Total liabilities   300,824
Total assets   $10,554,189

Note: In the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" in the amount of $33,368 refers to a change in value of annuities payable.

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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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