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.
BBI 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.
BBI does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors held two meetings of the full governing board in 2010.
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.
BBI does not meet this Standard because:
- 4 members out of the 31 member board of directors (13%) are compensated directly. In addition, the paid chief executive officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.
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.
Best Buddies International 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 8: Program Service Expense Ratio - Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.
BBI does not meet this Standard because:
- According to the its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, the organization spent $10,526,652 or 53% of its total expenses ($19,735,422) on program service activities.
Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.
BBI does not meet this Standard because:
- According to its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, the organization's fund raising costs were 44% ($8,510,988) of related contributions, which totaled $19,145,238.
Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.
BBI does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:
- Only included one program service category. It did not include a detailed breakdown of expenses for each of its major program activities (i.e. BBI Friendship program, E-Buddies, and Best Buddies jobs.)
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.
BBI does not meet this standard because:
- The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2010.