BBB Wise Giving Report for
Youth Development Fund

BBB Wise Giving Report issued August 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires August 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: Youth Development Fund
Address: 8 Canberra Drive
  Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 866-311-9739
Web Address: www.youthdevelopmentfund.org
Also known as:A Child's Dream
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1982, Tennessee
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to support and promote education programs and services for children."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Youth Development Fund (YDF) does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 2: Number of Board Members - Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

YDF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has four (4) voting members of the board.

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

YDF does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, the organization spent $2,162,571 or 51% of its total expenses ($4,227,972) 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.

YDF does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, the organization's fund raising costs were 47% ($1,976,633) of related contributions, which totaled $4,227,892.

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.

YDF does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization did not provide an annual report covering activities conducted in 2010.

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.

YDF does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.youthdevelopmentfund.org does not indicate:

  • How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.

Standard 20: Complaints - Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fund raising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.

  • YDF does not meet this Standard because in the last 36 months, the BBB processed 7 complaints and 2 were not addressed.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, effectiveness measures, finances, solicitation materials, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 12 Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 19.
Youth Development Fund (YDF) meets the remaining 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

YDF supports educational programs dealing with drug abuse, health and fitness and presents festival events for children and the general public. The organization produces and distributes public service announcements regarding child-family relationships. The A Child's Dream program fulfills wishes for children with life threatening illnesses and provides grants to children's hospitals.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, YDF's program expenses were:

  
Program services 2,162,571
Total Program Expenses: $2,162,571
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Richard H. Bowen, President
Compensation*:
 None

Chair of the Board: Richard H. Bowen
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, Youth Development Fund

Board Size: 4

Paid Staff Size:

*The organization reports that the Executive Director of the organization is unpaid.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:


Fund raising costs were 47% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $4,227,892, 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 YDF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 4,227,892
Unrealized gain on marketable securities 3,368
Total Income $4,231,260


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 51%  Fund Raising: 47%  Administrative: 2% 

Total income   $4,231,260
  Program expenses $2,162,571
  Fund raising expenses 1,976,633
  Administrative expenses 88,768
 
Total expenses   $4,227,972
Income in Excess of Expenses   3,288
Beginning net assets   250,245
Ending net assets   253,533
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $253,533


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Complaints

               

Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months:     7

Mailing List Removal

The organization addressed the complaint issues brought to its attention:                                                                                                  5

The organization did not address the complaint  issues brought to its attention:                                                                                             2 

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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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