Charity Review

Issued: May 2012 Expires: May 2014

JustGive

Standards
Not Met
415-982-5700 312 Sutter Street, Suite 410
San Francisco, CA 94108 www.justgive.org

Conclusions


JustGive does not meet the following 6 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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

  • The chair of the board of directors is the paid chief executive officer.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2011.

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because: 

  • The paid chief executive officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.

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.

JustGive 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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

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

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in its fiscal year ended February 28, 2011.
JustGive meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Purpose

Year, State Incorporated: 1999, California

Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to increase charitable giving by connecting people with the causes they care about most."

Programs


JustGive provides donors with online products and services that aim to make it safe, convenient and easy for them to make charitable giving a part of their everyday lives. The organization seeks to provide donors with innovative ways to give to their favorite causes, creating a new channel of funding for all charities.

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2011, JustGive's program expenses were:

  
Grants 34,896,400
Other program 987,418
Total Program Expenses: $35,883,818

Governance & Staff


Chief Executive : Kendall Webb, President and Executive Director
Compensation*: 
 $62,100

Highest Paid Executive: Andrea Benfer Lloyd, Director of Programs
Compensation*: $101,670

Chair of the Board: Kendall Webb
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President and Executive Director of JustGive

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 12

*2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Fund Raising


Method(s) Used:

Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $35,695,012, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

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.

Financial


The following information is based on JustGive's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Contributions to donor advised fund 34,896,400
Site processing fees 618,114
Corporate licensing 608,717
Other contributions 524,815
Unredeemed gift certificates and uncashed donations 156,762
Site set-up and development 80,960
Donated services 36,075
Interest and dividend income 8,605
Loss on investments -2,186
Total Income $36,928,262


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 98%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: Less than 1% 

Total income $36,928,262
Program expenses $35,883,818
Fund raising expenses 870,044
Administrative expenses 174,046
Total expenses $36,927,908
Income in Excess of Expenses 354
Beginning net assets 713,823
Ending net assets 714,177
Total liabilities 3,930,006
Total assets $4,644,183

Note: According to JustGive's audited financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2011 the organization received in-kind contributions in the amount of $36,075 including marketing/promotion ($35,075) and legal services ($1,000).

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 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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Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff

Description:

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

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Standard 2: Number of Board Members

Description:

Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings

Description:

An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

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Standard 4: Compensated Board Members

Description:

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because: 

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Standard 5: Conflict of Interest

Description:

No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness

Description:

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

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Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness

Description:

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

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Standard 8: Program Service Expense Ratio

Description:

Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 10: Ending Net Assets

Description:

Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 11: Financial Statements

Description:

Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses

Description:

Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements

Description:

Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 14: Budget

Description:

Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 15: Misleading Appeals

Description:

Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 16: Annual Report

Description:

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.

JustGive does not meet this Standard because:

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Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 19: Cause Related Marketing

Description:

Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 20: Complaints

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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