BBB Wise Giving Report for
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

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


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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
Address: 6350 North Andrews Avenue
  Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: 800-225-6495
954-776-6805
Web Address: www.msfocus.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1986, Florida
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to provide nationally accessible programs and support services to those persons affected by MS to help them maintain their health, safety, self-sufficiency, and personal well-being; and to heighten public awareness of multiple sclerosis in order to elicit financial support for the MSF's programs and services and promote understanding for those diagnosed with the illness."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

              

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

MSF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings in 2010.

Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

MSF does not meet this Standard because:

  • It did not produce a written report outlining the results of its most recent effectiveness assessment.

Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

MSF does not meet this Standard because the organization's budget did not include:

  • Projected administrative expenses.

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.

MSF does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, www.msfocus.org does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
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 2 Standards for Charity Accountability: 8 and 13.
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

              

MSF reports that it has a network of more than 100 independent support groups nationwide designed to provide people and their families with an opportunity to share their Multiple Sclerosis experiences with those who can understand and identify with them. The Home Care Assistance Grant program serves as a liaison between patients and the local resources that are available to meet his or her specific needs. The Assistive Technology program educates and assists individuals with MS about the assistive technology options available to them and how to access these options. The Brighter Tomorrow grant provides individuals with MS with goods or services valued at up to $1,000 per recipient to improve his or her quality of life by enhancing safety, self-sufficiency, comfort, or well-being. The organization’s Computer Grant program provides refurbished laptop or desktop computers for individuals with MS on limited or fixed incomes. MSF’s Complementary Alternative Medicine Program offers educational materials and referrals, as well as the opportunity to participate in various alternative therapies such as tai chi, yoga, chair yoga, aquatics, massage therapy, and acupuncture. The MSF Cooling Program offers items such as cooling vests, neckties, wristbands, bandanas, work collars, skull-pads, and baseball hats to individuals with MS, in whom temperature rises can cause weakness, fatigue, visual disturbances, and the aggravation and temporary worsening of symptoms. MSF’s We Care, We Call program enables people with MS are able to get a regular “check-in” call from other people with MS. Some ($466,419 or 10%) of MSF's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

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

  
Program services 4,493,006
Total Program Expenses: $4,493,006
Back To Top

Governance

              

Chief Executive : Alan Segaloff, Co-Executive Director
Compensation*:
$84,841

Highest Paid Executive: Jules Kuperberg, Co-Executive Director
Compensation*: $111,842

Chair of the Board: Eric Schenck
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Vice President of Finance, Midland Radio

Board Size: 5

Paid Staff Size: 145

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

Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 21% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $6,451,231, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
MSF incurred joint costs of $717,568 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $466,419 was allocated to program expenses, and $251,149 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
Back To Top

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.
Back To Top

Financial

              

The following information is based on MSF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 6,451,231
Investment returns -1,788
Loss on disposal of fixed assets -28,183
Total Income $6,421,260


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 70%  Fund Raising: 21%  Administrative: 9% 

Total income   $6,421,260
  Program expenses $4,493,006
  Fund raising expenses 1,373,604
  Administrative expenses 576,969
 
Total expenses   $6,443,579
Expenses in Excess of Income   (22,319)
Beginning net assets   2,147,466
Ending net assets   2,125,147
Total liabilities   227,948
Total assets   $2,353,095


Back To Top

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.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity