BBB Wise Giving Report for
Foundation for Ethnic Understanding

BBB Wise Giving Report issued August 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires April 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: Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
Address: 1 East 93rd Street, Suite 1C
  New York, NY 10128
Phone: 917-492-2538
Web Address: www.ffeu.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1999, New York
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to promote understanding and cooperation between and among ethnic groups and reduce the existing tensions among diverse racial and ethnic communities."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

FFEU does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.

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.

FFEU does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has never completed an effectiveness assessment.

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.

FFEU does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

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.

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

  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.
Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

FFEU works to strengthen race relations through organizing conferences and panel discussions, hosting congressional receptions, compiling and publishing high school and college curricula and community pamphlets, issuing publications, annual reports and national surveys, and by recognizing those individuals and corporations that emulate the qualities that foster inter-ethnic understanding and dialogue.

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

  
Muslim Jewish relations 554,267
Black Jewish relations 161,300
Website and newsletter 29,159
Total Program Expenses: $744,726
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : Rabbi Marc Schneier, President
Compensation*:
 $227,596

Chair of the Board: Russell Simmons
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Rush Communications

Board Size: 7

Paid Staff Size: 3

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $997,949, 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 FFEU's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 861,518
Benefits 136,431
Total Income $997,949


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 77%  Fund Raising: 16%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $997,949
  Program expenses $744,726
  Fund raising expenses 148,799
  Administrative expenses 64,971
 
Total expenses   $958,496
Income in Excess of Expenses   39,453
Beginning net assets   (139,947)
Ending net assets   (100,494)
Total liabilities   265,930
Total assets   $165,436


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