BBB Wise Giving Report for
CaringBridge

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


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: CaringBridge
Address: 1715 Yankee Doodle Road, Suite 301
  Eagan, MN 55121
Phone: 651-452-7940
651-789-2315
Web Address: www.caringbridge.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2002, Minnesota
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to amplify the love, hope and compassion in the world, making each health journey easier."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

CaringBridge meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

CaringBridge's program provides free websites to help families stay connected. This program aims to meet the needs of families by reducing stress during a difficult time in their life, building a sense of community around their loved ones, and strengthening bonds with families and friends.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, CaringBridge's program expenses were:

  
Program services 4,137,286
Total Program Expenses: $4,137,286
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Sona Mehring, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $156,685

Chair of the Board: Brad J. Beard
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President of Fairview Southdale Hospital and Clinics

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 56

*2009 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, print advertisements, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,378,123, 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 CaringBridge's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 5,137,881
Sponsor income 392,406
Donated services 219,001
Donated facilities and equipment 21,241
Interest income 20,582
Other income 20,010
Total Income $5,811,121


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 4%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $5,811,121
  Program expenses $4,137,286
  Fund raising expenses 222,349
  Administrative expenses 775,676
 
Total expenses   $5,135,311
Income in Excess of Expenses   675,810
Beginning net assets   1,792,104
Ending net assets   2,467,914
Total liabilities   470,056
Total assets   $2,937,970

Note: According to CaringBridge's 2009 audited financial statements, the organization's in-kind donations totaled $240,242 which includes marketing and advertising ($108,071), hosted software ($36,558), legal and consulting ($34,991), fixed assets ($32,250), volunteer support ($25,913), and web hosting ($2,459).

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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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