BBB Wise Giving Report for
Trees, Water and People

BBB Wise Giving Report issued June 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires June 2012


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: Trees, Water and People
Address: 633 Remington Street
  Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: 877-606-4897
970-484-3678
Web Address: www.treeswaterpeople.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1998, Colorado
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to improve people’s lives by helping communities to protect, conserve and manage the natural resources upon which their long-term well-being depends."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Trees, Water and People (TWP) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Internationally, TWP works in Central America and Haiti with local partners, to support sixteen tree nurseries that produce 220,000 trees annually to aid in reforestation efforts. The organization also aims to build fuel-efficient stoves that reduce firewood consumption, carbon emissions, and decreases deadly indoor air pollution. Nationally, TWP aims to improve the lives of Native Americans living on Great Plains reservations. TWP reports that with its local partner, it has produced more than 700 economic solar heating systems that save tribal families 20-30% on their annual utility bills for 2 decades. TWP also plants trees and shrubs around homes for families as natural wind blocks during the cold winter and shade during the hot summer. In Northern Colorado, TWP helps bring renewable energy installations to local schools through its Renewables on Schools initiative. TWP hosts planting events where volunteers plant trees and shrubs in their own community. It has also created four outdoor educational areas for use by students and teachers in Northern Colorado.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, TWP's program expenses were:

  
International 608,084
National 463,195
Total Program Expenses: $1,071,279
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Richard W. Fox, National Director
Compensation*:
$87,277

Chair of the Board: Jon Becker
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Former Co-owner, SolarGalss Window & Door

Board Size: 11

Paid Staff Size: 10

*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, special events, print advertisements, planned giving, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and cause-related marketing
Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,379,119, 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 TWP's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Public support, grants and foundations 924,619
Government funding 339,618
Contributed services and equipment 77,694
Fundraising events (net) 36,021
Interest income 6,721
Fees for services 4,102
Contributions 1,167
Miscellaneous income 730
Loss on asset sales -7,597
Unrealized loss on endowment -62,290
Total Income $1,320,785


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 78%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 13% 

Total income   $1,320,785
  Program expenses $1,071,279
  Fund raising expenses 121,473
  Administrative expenses 174,399
 
Total expenses   $1,367,151
Expenses in Excess of Income   (46,366)
Beginning net assets   723,244
Ending net assets   676,878
Total liabilities   197,345
Total assets   $874,223

Note: TWP's 2008 audited financial statements report gifts of in-kind income of $77,694. This amount consists of contributed services and equipment.

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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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