BBB Wise Giving Report for
America Can!

BBB Wise Giving Report issued February 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires February 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...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: America Can!
Address: 325 West 12th Street
  Dallas, TX 75208
Phone: 214-944-1985
866-835-5437
Web Address: www.texanscan.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1985, Texas
Affiliates: Austin Can!, Dallas Can!, Fort Worth Can!, Houston Can!, San Antonio Can! High School, and 5 chapters

Stated Purpose: "to provide a second chance for at-risk youth and their families to achieve economic independence and hope for a better life through relationship-based education and training. "

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

America Can! (AC) does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - 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.

AC does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, the organization's fund raising costs were 73% ($8,020,339) of related contributions, which totaled $10,916,475.

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.

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

  • Expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) and  did not indicate what portion of the expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities).

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.

AC does not meet this standard because the organization's most recent annual report did not include:

  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.
AC meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

AC provides education to youths who have social issues or are drop-outs. Through charter schools located in Texas, AC offers accelerated education, academic opportunities, life and coping skills, prevocational training, practical job training and placement, with continual job retention encouragement. Furthermore, its community volunteers act as tutors, teachers, guest speakers, role models, and counselors.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, AC's program expenses were:

  
Program services 35,954,218
Total Program Expenses: $35,954,218
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Richard Marquez, President
Compensation*:
$191,904

Highest Paid Executive: Grant East,President Emeritus
Compensation*: $241,880

Chair of the Board: Delia Jasso
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Owner, First Language Lab

Board Size: 10

Paid Staff Size: 585

*September 1, 2007 - August 31, 2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Special events, television, radio, grant proposals, planned giving, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 73% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $10,916,475, 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 AC's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Program service revenue 40,828,937
Direct public support 10,916,475
Sales of assets, net 107,559
Gross rent 55,067
Interest on savings and temporary cash investments 10,031
Total Income $51,918,069


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 73%  Fund Raising: 16%  Administrative: 11% 

Total income   $51,918,069
  Program expenses $35,954,218
  Fund raising expenses 8,020,339
  Administrative expenses 5,682,202
 
Total expenses   $49,656,759
Income in Excess of Expenses   2,261,310
Beginning net assets   5,608,515
Other Changes in Net Assets (345,404)
Ending net assets   7,524,421
Total liabilities   11,818,756
Total assets   $19,343,177

Note:
In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" in the amount ($-345,404) represents a prior period adjustment.

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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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