BBB Wise Giving Report for
CaringBridge

BBB Wise Giving Report issued December 2008
BBB Wise Giving Report expires December 2010


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: CaringBridge
Address: 1715 Yankee Doodle Road, Suite 301
  Eagan, MN 55121
Phone: 651-452-7940
651-789-2315
Web Address: www.caringbridge.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2002, Minnesota
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to bring together a global community of care powered by the love of family and friends in an easy, accessible and private way."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

CaringBridge meets the 20Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

CaringBridge's program provides free websites to help families stay connected. This program aims to meet the needs of families by reducing stress during a difficult time in their life, building a sense of community around their loved one, strengthening bonds with families and friends and using the service free of charge.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, CaringBridge's program expenses were:

  
Program services 2,158,924
Total Program Expenses: $2,158,924
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Sona Mehring, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $114,750

Chair of the Board: Bert Harman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President and CEO of Otto Bock Health Care Americas

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size: 35

*2007 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, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and online campaign
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,192,436, 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 is based on CaringBridge's audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2007:

Source of Funds  
Contributions 3,036,646
Sponsor income 204,636
Donated services 145,040
Interest income 30,156
Donated facilities and equipment 10,750
Total Income $3,427,228


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $3,427,228
  Program expenses $2,158,924
  Fund raising expenses 127,697
  Administrative expenses 404,018
 
Total expenses   $2,690,639
Income in Excess of Expenses   736,589
Beginning net assets   578,077
Ending net assets   1,314,666
Total liabilities   400,044
Total assets   $1,714,710

Note: CaringBridge reports receiving $155,790 in in-kind donations in 2007 which includes website design and development ($50,708), program volunteers ($41,593), marketing services ($21,239), legal ($21,000), internet bandwith ($10,750), and training ($10,500).

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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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