BBB Wise Giving Report for
ProCon.org

BBB Wise Giving Report issued February 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires February 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: ProCon.org
Address: 233 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200
  Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-451-9596
310-587-1407
Web Address: www.procon.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2004, California
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to promote critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

ProCon.org (ProCon) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

ProCon does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held one meeting in the past fiscal year.
ProCon.org (ProCon) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

ProCon conducts research on websites that focus on a variety of issues, in order to provide information on topics of interest to the general public. ProCon does not express opinions on the research projects conducted, but, instead, provides data and rhetoric on issues, and crafts research projects into a presentation. ProCon works to research issues and present them in a pron-con format.

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

  
Program services 618,097
Total Program Expenses: $618,097
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Steven C. Markoff, Chairman/President
Compensation*:
 $0

Highest Paid Executive: Kambiz Akhavan,Managing Editor
Compensation*: $85,000

Chair of the Board: Steven C. Markoff
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President of ProCon.org

Board Size: 5

Paid Staff Size: 8

*January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. The organization indicates Mr. Markoff is unpaid.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $659,962, 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 ProCon's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 583,075
Contributed facilities 59,464
Contributed services 17,423
Program service revenue 50
Total Income $660,012


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 86%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 9% 

Total income   $660,012
  Program expenses $618,097
  Fund raising expenses 39,527
  Administrative expenses 62,527
 
Total expenses   $720,151
Expenses in Excess of Income   (60,139)
Beginning net assets   72,174
Ending net assets   12,035
Total liabilities   24,961
Total assets   $36,996


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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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