BBB Wise Giving Report for
Trees for Life

BBB Wise Giving Report issued January 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires January 2014


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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Trees for Life
Address: 3006 St Louis Street
  Wichita, KS 67203-5129
Phone: 316-945-6929
800-873-3736
Web Address: www.treesforlife.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1984, Kansas
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to create hope through a movement in which people join hands to break the cycle of poverty and hunger and care for our earth."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

Trees for Life does not meet the following 4 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.

Trees for Life 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 4: Compensated Board Members - Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

Trees for Life does not meet this Standard because:

  • 3 members out of the 18 member board of directors (17%) are paid staff.

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.

Trees for Life 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.

Trees for Life does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization reports that it completed an effectiveness, it did not produce a written report outlining the results of the assessment.
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: 3.
Trees for Life meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

Trees for Life focuses on long-term solutions in the areas of education, health and environment. Trees for Life distributes educational materials to spread awareness of the Moringa tree’s potential health benefits to many countries, including political, scientific and medical leaders.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, Trees for Life's program expenses were:

  
World program 335,589
US program 156,101
Total Program Expenses: $491,690
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : David A. Kimble, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $36,808

Chair of the Board: Sister Tarcisia Roths
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired President, Newman University

Board Size: 18

Paid Staff Size: 7

*2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, planned giving, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $543,738, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

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.
Back To Top

Financial

               

The following information is based on Trees for Life's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 539,568
Gain on investments 57,614
Interest income 26,486
Contributed services 4,170
Total Income $627,838


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 6%  Administrative: 13% 

Total income   $627,838
  Program expenses $491,690
  Fund raising expenses 38,073
  Administrative expenses 76,690
 
Total expenses   $606,453
Income in Excess of Expenses   21,385
Beginning net assets   989,104
Ending net assets   1,010,489
Total liabilities   14,883
Total assets   $1,025,372

Note: According to audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, Trees for Life received $114,488 in-kind contributions, including education/training goods ($109,968), professional services ($4,000), equipment ($350), and freight and storage services ($170).

Back To Top

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.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity