BBB Wise Giving Report for
Carbonfund.org Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued February 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires February 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: Carbonfund.org Foundation
Address: 1320 Fenwick Lane, Suite 206
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 240-247-0630
Web Address: www.carbonfund.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2003, Delaware
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to help combat the dangers of climate change through the reduction of or offset to carbon dioxide."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Carbonfund.org Foundation (Carbonfund.org) does not meet the following 5 Standards 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.

  • Carbonfund.org does not meet the meeting frequency provision of this Standard for meetings held in the past fiscal year because the board of directors held two meetings.

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.

  • Carbonfund.org 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.

  • Carbonfund.org does not meet this Standard because it has not completed an effectiveness assessment and does not have one planned for the near future. 

Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

  • Carbonfund.org does not meet this Standard because the organization's 2008 audited financial statements did not include a detailed functional breakdown of expenses.

Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

  • Carbonfund.org does not meet this Standard because the budget information provided by the organization does not clearly identify the projected amounts to be spent on programs, fund raising, and administrative activities.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, finances, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 13, and 19.
Carbonfund.org Foundation (Carbonfund.org) meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Through its Small Business program Carbonfund.org works with businesses to support renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects globally, educate the public about the facts and issues of climate change, and seek ways to have a cleaner healthier environment.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, Carbonfund.org's program expenses were:

  
Program services 2,922,422
Total Program Expenses: $2,922,422
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Eric M. Carlson, President
Compensation*:
$214,000

Chair of the Board: Paul Rowland
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Senior Director, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

Board Size: 5

Paid Staff Size: 16

*2008 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, telemaketing, Internet appeals, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,983,138, 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 Carbonfund.org's IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contribution and grants 3,983,138
Miscellaneous 43,547
Interest income 37,628
Total Income $4,064,313


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 93%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $4,064,313
  Program expenses $2,922,422
  Fund raising expenses 42,275
  Administrative expenses 200,921
 
Total expenses   $3,165,618
Income in Excess of Expenses   898,695
Beginning net assets   1,946,744
Ending net assets   2,845,439
Total liabilities   2,188,597
Total assets   $5,034,036

Note: The information contained in the above financial section is from the organization's 2008 IRS Form 990 because the 2008 audited financial statements did not include a breakdown of expenses for programs, fund raising and administrative activities.

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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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