BBB Wise Giving Report for
St. Labre Indian School Educational Association

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: St. Labre Indian School Educational Association
Address: Post Office Box 216
  Ashland, MT 59003-0216
Phone: 406-784-4500
Web Address: www.stlabre.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1970, Montana
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Catholic tradition by providing quality education which celebrates our Catholic faith and embraces Native American cultures, primarily the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Tribe, so that Native American individuals and communities of Southeastern Montana are empowered to attain self-sufficiency."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

St. Labre Indian School Educational Association (St. Labre) does not meet the following 6 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.

St. Labre 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.

St. Labre does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has never completed an effectiveness assessment.

Standard 8: Program Service Expense Ratio - Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

St. Labre does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the organization spent $19,160,468 or 36% of its total expenses ($53,249,476) on program service activities.

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.

St. Labre does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the organization's fund raising costs were 48% ($17,189,854) of related contributions, which totaled $35,716,030.

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.

St. Labre does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its most recent annual report does not include end of year net assets.

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.

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

  • End of year net assets.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 1.
St. Labre Indian School Educational Association (St. Labre) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

St. Labre reports that it operates five schools at three locations on the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian reservation. It offers a program from Pre-school through high school, with the high school being fully accredited by the Montana Office of Public Instruction and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. St. Labre works to provide children with a well-planned education, and two meals a day (three for dormitory students). The organization also has a residential child care program plus outreach services to the area communities with counseling, networking and assistence to the elderly. In addition, St. Labre aims to provide scholarships to continue students education beyond high school.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, St. Labre's program expenses were:

  
Instructional 15,600,130
Community services 2,030,953
Youth and family services 1,529,385
Total Program Expenses: $19,160,468
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Curtis Yarlott, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $110,000

Chair of the Board: Brother Bob Smith, OFM Cap
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Catholic School Administrator

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 300

*July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 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, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 48% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $35,716,030, 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 St. Labre's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions (active donors) 23,926,647
Legacies and bequests 8,421,360
Contributions (donor development) 2,880,546
Interest and dividends 2,030,502
Other miscellaneous revenues 406,162
Grants (federal and state) 367,238
Rental income (teacher housing) 334,327
Net realized/unrealized gains on investments 186,066
Annuity contracts funded 120,239
Total Income $38,673,087


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 36%  Fund Raising: 32%  Administrative: 4%  Other Expenses: 28%

Total income   $38,673,087
  Program expenses $19,160,468
  Fund raising expenses 17,189,854
  Administrative expenses 2,139,879
  Other Expenses 14,759,275
Total expenses   $53,249,476
Expenses in Excess of Income   (14,576,389)
Beginning net assets   89,405,811
Ending net assets   74,829,422
Total liabilities   5,850,748
Total assets   $80,680,170

Note: In the above financial section above, "other expenses" represents net realized and unrealized loss on investments ($14,471,123) and acturial loss on annuity liabilities ($288,152).

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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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