BBB Wise Giving Report for
AARP Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued June 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: AARP Foundation
Address: 601 E Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20049
Phone: 888-687-2277
Web Address: www.aarp.org/foundation
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1961, District of Columbia
Affiliates: AARP Inc, AARP Institute

Stated Purpose: "to serve vulnerable older people by creating solutions that help them secure the essentials (i.e. food, income, housing and personal connection) and achieve their best life."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

AARP Foundation (the Foundation) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

AARP Foundation (the Foundation) is focused on helping low-income, vulnerable older people meet their everyday needs such as food, housing, income and personal connection. In addition to its four focus areas, AARP Foundation Litigation (AFL) is an advocate in courts nationwide for the rights of people 50+, addressing diverse legal issues that affect their daily lives with the aim of giving them a voice in the judicial system. Assisted by grants, corporate sponsors, individual donors and AARP itself, the Foundation works hand-in-hand with communities across the country to nurture the seeds of hope for older Americans.

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

  
WorkSearch 109,517,000
Other programs 13,080,000
Tax-Aide 11,408,000
Legal advocacy 4,653,000
Total Program Expenses: $138,658,000
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Jo Ann Jenkins, President
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Mae Mendelson, Ph.D.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President of Travel & Learn and Professor in Residence at Chaminade University of Honolulu

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 227

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. Jo Ann Jenkins joined AARP Foundation on June 1, 2010. Prior to Ms. Jenkins appointment, Ms. Robin Talbert was the president of the Foundation and was compensated $321,770 in 2009.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $143,757,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
The Foundation incurred joint costs of $2,058,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $1,757,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses and $301,000 was allocated to program expenses.
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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 the Foundation's audited financial statements (consolidated with affiliates) for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Grant revenue 103,106,000
In-kind contributions 25,857,000
Contributions 14,794,000
Investment income designated for operations 747,000
Other 440,000
Total Income $144,944,000


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 89%  Fund Raising: 7%  Administrative: 4% 

Total income   $144,944,000
  Program expenses $138,658,000
  Fund raising expenses 11,734,000
  Administrative expenses 6,228,000
 
Total expenses   $156,620,000
Expenses in Excess of Income   (11,676,000)
Beginning net assets   55,478,000
Other Changes in Net Assets 11,045,000
Ending net assets   54,847,000
Total liabilities   51,937,000
Total assets   $106,784,000

Note 1: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" represents investment income in excess of amounts designated for operations ($11,580,000) and change in value of charitable gift annuities (-$535,000).

Note 2: According to the Foundation's audited financial statements, the organization received $25,857,000 in in-kind donations which includes supervisory services ($15,611,000) and shared services such as personnel costs ($10,297,000).

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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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