BBB Wise Giving Report for
Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs

BBB Wise Giving Report issued June 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires June 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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs
Address: 22231 Mulholland Highway, Suite 209
  Calabasas, CA 91302
Phone: 818-225-9150
Web Address: www.saveourplanet.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1994, Delaware
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to create working relationships with activists that facilitate projects that are charitable in nature."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

              

Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) does not meet the following 5 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.

SEE 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.

SEE does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has not conducted an organizational effectiveness assessment in the past.

Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - 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.

SEE does not meet this Standard because its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008:

  • Reports the organization had no fund raising expenses.

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.

SEE does not meet this Standard because the budget information provided by the organization:

  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.

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.

SEE does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.saveourplanet.org does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
In addition, because the organization reported no fundraising expenses, the Alliance is unable to verify its compliance with 2 Standards for Charity Accountability: 8 and 9.
Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

              

SEE aims to make a cultural impact on society by creating change through various projects. Project leaders are entrepreneurs who partner with SEE to grow their projects to sustainable levels. SEE supports projects that perform fieldwork in various arenas and small communities with innovations at a grassroots level. The organization concentrates on long-term improvements dealing with social and economical reform.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, SEE's program expenses were:

  
Program services 2,432,129
Total Program Expenses: $2,432,129
Back To Top

Governance

              

Chief Executive : Russell Jensen & Jennifer Hoffman, Financial Director & Project Manager, Co-ED's
Compensation*:
$51,500

Chair of the Board: Andrew Beath
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Developer

Board Size: 6

Paid Staff Size: 24

*2008 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, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.
The organization reports zero fundraising expenses, see the evaluation conclusions section of this report for more information.
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 SEE's audited financial statements - combined for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 3,019,673
Interest income 44,186
Loss on investments -226,223
Total Income $2,837,636


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 92%    Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $2,837,636
  Program expenses $2,432,129
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses 201,751
 
Total expenses   $2,633,880
Income in Excess of Expenses   203,756
Beginning net assets   1,560,391
Ending net assets   1,764,147
Total liabilities   72,921
Total assets   $1,837,068

Note 1: The organization reports zero fundraising expenses, see the evaluation conclusions section of this report for more information.

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