Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Autism Speaks
Address:	1 East 33rd Street, 4th Floor
	New York, NY 10016
Phone:	212-252-8584 914-935-1462
Web Address:	www.autismspeaks.org
Also known as: Cure Autism Now

Autism Speaks (AS) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

AS primarily engages in four program service activities. The organization funds biomedical research into the causes, prevention, and treatments of autism. AS is also involved in awareness initiatives such as Learn the Signs campaign through the Ad Council and Light It Up Blue, a campaign to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. The organization also reports operating a database of about 30,000 autism related service providers, informational tool kits that educate affected families, and grants to community-based projects focused on education, recreation and young adult/adult services. Furthermore, AS engages in legislative advocacy efforts specifically for autism insurance reform and to secure federal funding for research and family support services. Some ($5,775,924, or 15%) of AS’ programs are conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

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

Research	21,672,763
Awareness and other services	15,731,215
Total Program Expenses:	$37,403,978

Chief Executive : Mark Roithmayr, President

Compensation*:

$391,892

Highest Paid Executive: Geri Dawson, Chief Science officer
Compensation*: $456,420

Chair of the Board: Robert Wright
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Co-founder of Autism Speaks and Senior Advisor of Lee Equity Partners

Board Size: 25

Paid Staff Size: 200

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

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, television, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 23% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $53,800,618, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

AS incurred joint costs of $12,507,484 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $6,731,560 was allocated to fund raising expenses and $5,775,924 was allocated to program expenses.

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 AS's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds
Walk program and retail partners	33,644,770
Major gifts and other contributions	12,515,102
Special and community events	5,731,536
Government grants	1,909,210
Interest income and other	98,261
Total Income	$53,898,879

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 73%  Fund Raising: 23%  Administrative: 4%

Total income				$53,898,879
	Program expenses			$37,403,978
	Fund raising expenses			12,111,483
	Administrative expenses			2,203,127
Total expenses				$51,718,588
Income in Excess of Expenses				2,180,291
Beginning net assets				11,890,056
Ending net assets				14,070,347
Total liabilities				6,634,605
Total assets				$20,704,952

Note: According to AS' 2010 audited financial statements, the organization received in-kind contributions in the amount of $591,232 which includes advertising production ($506,232) and legal services ($85,000).