BBB Wise Giving Report for
Student Conservation Association

BBB Wise Giving Report issued October 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires October 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Student Conservation Association
Address: 689 River Road,
Post Office Box 550
  Charlestown, NH 03603-0550
Phone: 603-543-1700
Web Address: www.thesca.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1965, New York
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, solicitation materials, and donor privacy and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability: 3, 15, and 18.
Student Conservation Association (SCA) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

SCA’s programs include Conservation Interns—college-age and older volunteers participating in 12-week to 12-month internships in virtually every conservation discipline; Conservation Corps—teams of interns working at the grassroots level to address pressing community and environmental concerns; Conservation Crews—summer conservation service opportunities for high school students in national parks, forests and wildlife refuges and in urban green spaces around the country; and Community Programs—providing year-round conservation service opportunities to diverse young people in five urban centers.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, SCA's program expenses were:

  
Field expenses 23,622,307
Program support and development 6,349,853
Participant recruitment 1,463,196
Total Program Expenses: $31,435,356
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Dale M. Penny, President and CEO
Compensation*:
 $284,701

Chair of the Board: Dean W. Fischer
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, West Monroe Partners

Board Size: 24

Paid Staff Size: 194

*October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010 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, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 20% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $8,920,863, 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 SCA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contract and agency 27,911,145
Foundation and corporate gifts and grants 5,728,261
Individual giving 3,192,602
Net return on investments 586,389
Other income 158,545
Change in value of interest rate swap -113,269
Change in actuarial value and amortization of split-interest agreements -127,324
Total Income $37,336,349


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 86%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 9% 

Total income   $37,336,349
  Program expenses $31,435,356
  Fund raising expenses 1,789,235
  Administrative expenses 3,150,773
 
Total expenses   $36,375,364
Income in Excess of Expenses   960,985
Beginning net assets   9,911,413
Ending net assets   10,872,398
Total liabilities   14,569,628
Total assets   $25,442,026

Note: According to SCA, the organization received $181,535 of in-kind contributions.

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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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