BBB Wise Giving Report for
EARTH University Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued July 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires July 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: EARTH University Foundation
Address: 5 Piedmont Center Suite 215,
3525 Piedmont Road NE
  Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404-995-1230
Web Address: www.earth-usa.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1989, Delaware
Affiliates: EARTH University
Stated Purpose: "to raise funds to support scholarships and programs for EARTH University, an international, private, non-profit university dedicated to education in the agricultural sciences in Costa Rica."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

EARTH University Foundation (EUF) does not meet the following 3 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.

EUF 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.

EUF does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has not completed an effectiveness assessment.

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.

EUF does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.
EARTH University Foundation (EUF) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

EARTH University’s educational model is based on experiential learning and a methodology that combines entrepreneurial training with social and environmental responsibility. As part of this model, the academic program allows students to actively participate in the learning process by creating and operating their own businesses during the four-year program, with the purpose of strengthening their entrepreneurial mentality and leadership skills. Technical and scientific preparation forms the basis of this effort and is combined with experience in the community, work with farmers and participation in applied research projects. Student also participate in a 15-week off campus internship and have multiple intercultural experiences typical of an international education atmosphere. The two focus areas for EUF’s fundraising include student scholarships and the educational program. The Educational Program is further broken into various components for fundraising purposes which includes student recruitment, academic preparation, entrepreneurial projects, community development, English language training, internship support, and the Peri-Urban Agriculture Program. Supported by academic research, EARTH also aims to use resources rationally by planning, carrying out and monitoring projects in the following areas: integrated waste management; energy management; and water resource management.

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

  
Scholarships and grants 4,290,070
Total Program Expenses: $4,290,070
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Pat Fischer, Executive director
Compensation*:
$92,197

Highest Paid Executive: David Walker,Vice President of Development
Compensation*: $153,378

Chair of the Board: Mark J. Ohrstrom
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, Larkspur Management

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 12

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. Pat Fischer's compensation was for only half of 2009.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,812,383, 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 EUF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions and pledges 5,812,383
Funding from EARTH 1,069,196
Investment income 714,453
Funding from EARTH Trust 39,258
Total Income $7,635,290


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 85%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $7,635,290
  Program expenses $4,290,070
  Fund raising expenses 412,300
  Administrative expenses 346,364
 
Total expenses   $5,048,734
Income in Excess of Expenses   2,586,556
Beginning net assets   12,728,786
Ending net assets   15,315,342
Total liabilities   175,616
Total assets   $15,490,958


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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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