BBB Wise Giving Report for
Rebuilding Together

BBB Wise Giving Report issued May 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 2014


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: Rebuilding Together
Address: 1899 L Street NW,
Suite 1000
  Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-483-9083
800-473-4229
Web Address: www.rebuildingtogether.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1988, District of Columbia
Affiliates: 192 chapters
Stated Purpose: “to bring volunteers and communities together in order to improve the homes and lives of homeowners in need.”

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

              

Rebuilding Together (RT) does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - 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.

RT does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's 2010 financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:

  • Only included one program service category. It did not include a detailed breakdown of expenses for each of its major program activities (i.e., safe at home, veterans housing, green housing, and Gulf Coast operations).

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.

Rebuilding Together does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Included total projected program service expenses, however, did not break these expenses down by major program category (i.e., safe at home, veterans housing, green housing, and Gulf Coast operations).

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.

RT does not meet this standard because the 2010 annual report did not include:

  • Actual total income.
  • Actual total end of year net assets.

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.

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

  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s effectiveness measures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 6.
Rebuilding Together (RT) meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

              

RT reports that it has four core initiatives: safe at home, veterans housing, green housing, and Gulf Coast operations. The purpose of the safe at home program is to address home repair and maintenance issues that potentially present a safety risk, or limit the access to or within the home. The organization reports that its veterans housing initiative was created to meet the needs of veterans from past and present wars. The initiative works to fill gaps in home repair services for retired and active service members by increasing the home’s accessibility, enabling veterans to live independently and safely in their own homes. The organization’s Gulf Coast operations initiative was launched in response to the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. RT reports that the Gulf Coast operations initiative continues to rebuild low-income homes and to develop the capacity of its Gulf Coast affiliates, from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southeast Texas. RT and its affiliates report that they have been utilizing green building practices — and providing green home rehabilitation — for more than 20 years.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, RT's program expenses were:

  
Program Services 13,645,766
Total Program Expenses: $13,645,766
Back To Top

Governance

              

Chief Executive : Gary Officer, President and CEO
Compensation*:
$214,177

Chair of the Board: William Good
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Executive Vice President, National Roofing Contractors Association

Co-Chair of the Board : Mell Meredith Frazier

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Vice President, Meredith Publications

Co-Chair of the Board : Ken Scherer

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: CEO, Motion Picture Television Fund

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size: 30

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

Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, television, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $16,739,990, 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 RT's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Donated facilities, services, materials 10,413,238
Corporate contributions 5,496,414
Government contracts 1,185,069
Membership dues 603,220
Foundation contributions 572,659
Chapter fees 394,523
Investment income 386,469
Chapter insurance 311,094
Individual contributions 215,273
National conference 126,234
Other income 45,622
Special events 42,406
Total Income $19,792,221


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 89%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $19,792,221
  Program expenses $13,645,766
  Fund raising expenses 748,835
  Administrative expenses 941,059
 
Total expenses   $15,335,660
Income in Excess of Expenses   4,456,561
Beginning net assets   11,741,186
Ending net assets   16,197,747
Total liabilities   1,898,272
Total assets   $18,096,019


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