Standard 2: Number of Board Members - Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization does not have a minimum of 5 voting board members.
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.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this Standard because:
- The paid chief executive officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.
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.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this Standard because:
- It did not produce a written report outlining the results of its most recent effectiveness assessment.
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.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected expenses for each major program.
- Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
- Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.
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.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this standard because:
- The 2008 annual report did not include a roster of the board of directors
- In addition, the organization does not produce an annual report every 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.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.rutherford.org, 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.
- 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.
Rutherford Institute does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, www.rutherford.org does not indicate:
- What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.