BBB Wise Giving Report for
Wireless Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued March 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires March 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Wireless Foundation
Address: 1400 16th Street NW
Suite 600
  Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-785-0081
Web Address: www.wirelessfoundation.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1991, District of Columbia
Affiliates: CTIA - The Wireless Association
Stated Purpose: "to initiate and oversee philanthropic programs that utilize wireless technology in order to help American communities."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Wireless Foundation (WF) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

WF uses wireless technology solutions to work to advance charitable causes, ranging from child abduction prevention (Wireless AMBER Alerts), improving pre- and post-natal health outcomes (text4baby), recycling e-waste (CALL TO PROTECT), and promoting wireless citizenship (Be Smart. Fair. Safe Wireless Responsible Use Campaign).

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

  
Wireless AMBER alerts 714,327
Wireless online safety 564,429
Achievement awards event 281,566
CALL to PROTECT 230,614
Education 123,062
Emergency preparedness 71,109
Other programs 45,635
Amy J. Zoslov memorial scholarship 41,200
VisionONE project 23,284
Total Program Expenses: $2,095,226
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Kimberly Bassett, Executive Director
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Tony Holcombe
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President and CEO, Syniverse Technologies

Board Size: 15

Paid Staff Size: 4

*Although there is no available salary information for the current CEO, 2009 compensation for former CEO David Diggs was $364,605. Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, and special events.
Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,786,201, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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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.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on WF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Donated services 1,423,738
VITA awards 359,283
Investment income 187,786
Sale of donated phones 136,772
Contributions 3,180
Total Income $2,110,759


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 87%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $2,110,759
  Program expenses $2,095,226
  Fund raising expenses 109,746
  Administrative expenses 187,431
 
Total expenses   $2,392,403
Expenses in Excess of Income   (281,644)
Beginning net assets   18,165,103
Other Changes in Net Assets 2,612,789
Ending net assets   20,496,248
Total liabilities   306,132
Total assets   $20,802,380

Note: According to WF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, in-kind contributions included CTIA donated services ($826,588), wireless AMBER alerts ($570,000), and Text 2Help ($27,150).

Note: "Other changes in net assets" in the financial section above is unrealized gain on sale of investments ($2,054,119) and equity in income of unconsolidated subsidiary ($558,670).

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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.

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