BBB Wise Giving Report for
FightSMA

BBB Wise Giving Report issued May 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 2014


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: FightSMA
Address: 1807 Libbie Avenue, Suite 104
  Richmond, VA 23226
Phone: 804-515-0080
Web Address: www.fightsma.org
Also known as:Andrew's Buddies
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1991, Virginia
Affiliates: 17 chapters
Stated Purpose: "to strategically accelerate research toward treatment and cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

FightSMA (FightSMA) does not meet the following 4 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.

FightSMA 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 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

FightSMA does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization's board of directors held three boad meetings in 2010, only one was held in person. 

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.

FightSMA does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2010.

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.

FightSMA does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.fightsma.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.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 14.
FightSMA (FightSMA) meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

FightSMA reports that it provides research funding to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) scientists at more than forty academic institutions and biotech corporations in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Canada. The organization has been involved from the initial search for the gene that causes SMA, through the current efforts to identify compounds which can compensate for this faulty gene and, ultimately, provide treatment for the disease. FightSMA hosts an annual conference for SMA researchers and families which provides an opportunity for researchers and doctors to work collaboratively and to inform and encourage families who support and depend on their work.

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

  
Research 478,553
Public education 274,201
Total Program Expenses: $752,754
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Martha Slay, President
Compensation*:
$

Chair of the Board: Michael R. Calise
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, Calise & Sons Bakery, Cranston, RI

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 2

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. FightSMA reports that its President is not compensated.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,084,686, 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 FightSMA's audited financial statements (consolidated) for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 1,039,457
Special events 44,938
Interest 1,062
Merchandise sales, net 291
Total Income $1,085,748


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 12%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $1,085,748
  Program expenses $752,754
  Fund raising expenses 113,074
  Administrative expenses 51,845
 
Total expenses   $917,673
Income in Excess of Expenses   168,075
Beginning net assets   570,019
Ending net assets   738,094
Total liabilities   5,238
Total assets   $743,332


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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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