Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	American Littoral Society
Address:	18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite #1
	Highlands, NJ 07732
Phone:	732-291-0055
Web Address:	www.littoralsociety.org

American Littoral Society (ALS) does not meet the following 2 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. ALS 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 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. ALS does not meet this standard because the 2010 annual report did not include: A roster of the board of directors

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 13.

American Littoral Society (ALS) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.

ALS’ programs focus on education, conservation, and advocacy, utilizing a top-down and bottom-up approach to engage federal, state, and local decision-makers and citizens at the grass roots level. Through its education program, the organization provides field based marine and environmental education in coastal areas for youth and adults from all walks of life, and creates “citizen science” opportunities for the public such as Sandy Hook BioBlitz and a fish tagging program. ALS’ advocacy program entails engaging in public education programs and defending coastal areas and wildlife from inappropriate uses; working with federal, state, and local officials to develop better coastal management policies; litigating when other avenues fail; giving citizens the tools they need to protect the quality of water, habitat, and life in their communities; and defending the right of all people to access the shore. The organization’s conservation program promotes land protection and the preservation of costal habitats. Through its conservation program, ALS engages the public in restoring oyster reefs in Barnegat Bay and Delaware Bay and in restoring coastal habitats through removal of marine debris and invasive species and replanting in NJ, FL, and NY helping home and business owners to be better stewards of coastal waterways by adopting more “eco-friendly” landscaping, gardening, and grounds maintenance choices.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, ALS's program expenses were:

Program expenses	1,258,155
Total Program Expenses:	$1,258,155

Chief Executive : Timothy P. Dillingham, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$84,451

Chair of the Board: Richard G. Lathrop, PhD
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Director, Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, Rutgers University

Board Size: 17

Paid Staff Size: 13

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

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,362,046, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

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.

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

Source of Funds
Foundation grants	901,820
Program revenue	243,292
Federal and state government grants	222,464
Contributions	111,130
Memberships	109,261
Special event revenue	17,371
Rental income	9,000
Investment income	2,071
Total Income	$1,616,409

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 16%

Total income				$1,616,409
	Program expenses			$1,258,155
	Fund raising expenses			38,206
	Administrative expenses			240,449
Total expenses				$1,536,810
Income in Excess of Expenses				79,599
Beginning net assets				352,127
Ending net assets				431,726
Total liabilities				281,668
Total assets				$713,394