BBB Wise Giving Report for
Aid for AIDS International

BBB Wise Giving Report issued September 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires September 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: Aid for AIDS International
Address: 515 Greenwich Street, Suite 203
  New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212-337-8043
Web Address: www.aidforaids.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1996, New York
Affiliates: Aid for AIDS Panama, and 1 chapters

Stated Purpose: "to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in developing countries and those who are immigrants to the U.S and to empower PLWHAs, their caregivers, and the community at large by providing access to medications, health education, HIV prevention strategies and advocacy and by promoting leadership and capacity building for individuals and organizations."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Aid for AIDS International (AFAI) does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

AFAI does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.

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.

AFAI 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.

AFAI does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors
  • Total income.
  • Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.

Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures - Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

AFAI does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.aidforaids.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.

Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy - Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

AFAI does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.aidforaids.org does not:

  • Include a privacy policy statement.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 2.
AFAI meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

AFAI operates programs such as its AIDS treatment access program which recycles HIV medications that would otherwise be discarded by patients in the U.S so that they can be utilized by individuals in the developing world. AFAI also operates a universal treatment access initiative through which antiretroviral medications are distributed to primarily “mobile populations” in South American countries. Through its Cuanto Sabes de VIH / SIDA program, the organization reports training 1,200 professors who act as forming agents by training at least 15 adolescents as peer educators every year. With the aim of strengthening health systems in these South American countries, AFAI reports training 400 health professionals (doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers) every year about the HIV epidemic and best practices in treatment and counseling. The organization also engages in advocacy through civil surveillance and works with communities around Latin America to ensure their role in decision making processes that affect them. Online portals like "Observatorio Latino" and "Observatorio de la Mujer" help connect activists with resources and help them to advocate for their communities.

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

  
Program services 5,808,476
Total Program Expenses: $5,808,476
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Jesus Aguais, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$90,423

Chair of the Board: Maria Eugenia Maury Arria
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Philanthropist

Board Size: 7

Paid Staff Size: 17

*2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $6,200,473, 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 AFAI's audited financial statements (consolidated with subsidiary) for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Donated medicine 4,848,107
Contributions 1,016,148
Special event, net 336,218
Other income 42,132
Interest income 2,408
Loss on disposal of assets -91,256
Total Income $6,153,757


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 92%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $6,153,757
  Program expenses $5,808,476
  Fund raising expenses 138,053
  Administrative expenses 361,453
 
Total expenses   $6,307,982
Expenses in Excess of Income   (154,225)
Beginning net assets   (63,665)
Ending net assets   (217,890)
Total liabilities   514,017
Total assets   $296,127

Note: According to AFAI's 2008 audited financial statements, the organization received donated medicines valued at $4,848,107.

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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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