BBB Wise Giving Report for
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued February 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires February 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: Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
Address: 1332 North Halsted Street, Suite 201
  Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 312-587-9272
Web Address: www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2000, Colorado
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to find a cure for and raise awareness of Pulmonary Fibrosis. "

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) 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.

PFF 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.

PFF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings in the past fiscal year.

Standard 4: Compensated Board Members - Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

PFF does not meet this Standard because:

  • 2 members out of the 16 member board of directors (13%) are paid staff.

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.

PFF does not meet this standard because:

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

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.

PFF does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org does not indicate:

  • What personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
  • How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability: 13 and 15.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

PFF provides informational and educational materials, such as their patient information handbook, brochure, and newsletter. PFF also contributes research grants to medical facilities throughout the United States. The organization offers five online support groups to patients across the country and conducts several face-to-face pulmonary fibrosis support groups.

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

  
Research 789,732
Physician and patient education 239,538
Advocacy 67,371
Total Program Expenses: $1,096,641
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Michael Rosenzweig, PhD, President
Compensation*:
$116,689

Chair of the Board: Daniel M. Rose, MD
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgeon (retired)

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 5

*2008 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, special events, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were less than 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,692,997, 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 PFF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 1,512,296
Special events (net) 174,529
Investment income 84,108
Contributions in-kind 6,172
Realized and unrealized losses on investments -10,273
Total Income $1,766,832


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 92%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $1,766,832
  Program expenses $1,096,641
  Fund raising expenses 7,787
  Administrative expenses 81,500
 
Total expenses   $1,185,928
Income in Excess of Expenses   580,904
Beginning net assets   2,370,385
Ending net assets   2,951,289
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $2,951,289


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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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