BBB Wise Giving Report for
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

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


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: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Address: 1720 Massachusetts Avenue NW
  Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-263-2800
Web Address: www.cbcfinc.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1976, District of Columbia
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities and advance the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) does not meet the following 3 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.

CBCF does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.

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.

CBCF does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has not completed an effectiveness assessment within the past two years.

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.

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

  • 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 finances and solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability: 8, 9, 13, and 14.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

CBCF provides an African American perspective on public policy through the publication of fact sheets, policy briefs, and policy papers and through periodic policy forums and workshops. The organization's Annual Legislative Conference attracts thousands of attendees to sessions to discuss current issues facing the African American community. CBCF focuses on leadership education, economic development, and public health, and reports that, in 2009, it granted 556 students $716,000 in scholarship funds. The organization also reports that hundreds of interns and scores of fellows have gained experience working in congressional offices.

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

  
Programs and research 4,384,531
Communications 223,369
Total Program Expenses: $4,607,900
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Dr. Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., President and CEO
Compensation*:
 $222,500

Chair of the Board: Representative Donald M. Payne
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: US House of Representatives

Board Size: 37

Paid Staff Size: 40

*2009 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, radio, grant proposals, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $12,549,203, 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 CBCF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Special events 7,504,540
Contributions 5,044,663
Interest 89,826
Total Income $12,639,029


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 44%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 51% 

Total income   $12,639,029
  Program expenses $4,607,900
  Fund raising expenses 485,504
  Administrative expenses 5,277,614
 
Total expenses   $10,371,018
Income in Excess of Expenses   2,268,011
Beginning net assets   9,483,510
Ending net assets   11,751,521
Total liabilities   426,742
Total assets   $12,178,263

Note: For the year ended, December 31, 2009, CBCF had in-kind income in the amount of $30,675 for clothing items.

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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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