BBB Wise Giving Report for
Catholic Legal Immigration Network

BBB Wise Giving Report issued August 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires August 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: Catholic Legal Immigration Network
Address: 415 Michigan Avenue NE,
Suite 200
  Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202-635-2556
Web Address: www.cliniclegal.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1988, District of Columbia
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to enhance and expand delivery of legal services to indigent and low-income immigrants principally through diocesan immigration programs and to meet the immigration needs identified by the Catholic Church in the United States."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) does not meet the following 2 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.

CLINIC does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that the assessment will take place at least once every two years.

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.

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

  • Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements.
CLINIC meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

The CLINIC operates three major program areas consisting of direct representation, emergency population representation, and diocesan support. The direct representation program consists of legal services provided to clients before the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in Federal Court. Through the emergency population representation program, the CLINIC covers direct representation and advocacy on behalf of detained immigrants and other at-risk populations. Its diocesan support program provides training, legal support, and mentoring of member agencies. CLINIC reports that its network of community based immigration programs employ about 200 attorneys and "accredited" paralegals that serve 600,000 low-income immigrants each year. The organization and its member agencies represent low-income immigrants without reference to their race, religion, gender, ethnic group, or other distinguishing characteristics.

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

  
Diocesan support 3,176,242
Direct representation 1,521,671
Emergency population representation 83,563
Total Program Expenses: $4,781,476
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Maria M. Odom, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $43,519

Chair of the Board: Most Reverend Jaime Soto
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Bishop of Sacramento

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 57

*2009 Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. Ms. Odom assumed office on December 1, 2009 and was compensated the above amount for that month. Prior to her appointment, Mr. Mark Franken served as CEO and was compensated $105,986.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 20% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,859,439, 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 CLINIC's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops support 2,087,578
Religious contract revenues 1,299,242
Other grants and contributions 1,296,267
Federal awards 344,945
Trainings and seminars 342,555
Membership and other 218,227
Investment income 213,690
Professional service fees 105,831
Total Income $5,908,335


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 7%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $5,908,335
  Program expenses $4,781,476
  Fund raising expenses 380,817
  Administrative expenses 575,624
 
Total expenses   $5,737,917
Income in Excess of Expenses   170,418
Beginning net assets   3,795,032
Ending net assets   3,965,450
Total liabilities   667,343
Total assets   $4,632,793


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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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