BBB Wise Giving Report for
Ability Found

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


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Ability Found
Address: 5236 South Greenpine Drive
  Salt Lake City , UT 84123
Phone: 801-505-0529
877-231-4567
Web Address: www.abilityfound.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1993, Utah
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to bring people, assistive equipment, and expertise together to empower all individuals who are disabled."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

AF does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 2: Number of Board Members - Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

AF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has 4 voting members of the board.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

AF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 11: Financial Statements - Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $250,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $100,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

AF does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization reported more than $250,000 in revenue in 2009, it does not have audited financial statements.

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.

AF does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.

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.

AF does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.

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.

AF does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.abilityfound.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • 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 governance and oversight and solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability: 3 and 15.
AF meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

AF supplies medical equipment to individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities who cannot otherwise afford or obtain the equipment. The organization accomplishes this task by teaming up with local doctors, physical therapists, hospitals, clinics, medical vendors and charities to locate, evaluate, refurbish, fund, deliver and fit medical equipment to disabled people. AF reports that it directly assists over 500 people annually.

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

  
Program services 436,297
Total Program Expenses: $436,297
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ernest P. Robison, Ph.D., Executive Director
Compensation*:
$58,300

Chair of the Board: Lee W. Robinson, Ph.D.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Former Director of Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind (Retired)

Board Size: 4

Paid Staff Size: 2

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Television, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $520,087, 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 AF's IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions and grants 520,087
Investment income 6,714
Total Income $526,801


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 85%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $526,801
  Program expenses $436,297
  Fund raising expenses 23,512
  Administrative expenses 51,532
 
Total expenses   $511,341
Income in Excess of Expenses   15,460
Beginning net assets   204,456
Ending net assets   219,916
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $219,916

Note 1: AF's Form 990 was prepared on a cash accounting basis which is not in conformity with general accepted accounting principles.

Note 2: According to AF's 2009 Form 990, the organization's in-kind donations totaled $221,570 which includes medical equipment.

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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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