BBB Wise Giving Report for
Children with Hair Loss

BBB Wise Giving Report issued April 2012
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: Children with Hair Loss
Address: 12776 South Dixie Highway
  South Rockwood, MI 48179
Phone: 734-379-4400
Web Address: www.childrenwithhairloss.us
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2000, Michigan
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to provide wigs for children of all ages who are in need of wigs due to an illness and/or treatment."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Children with Hair Loss (CHL) does not meet the following 7 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.

CHL does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held one meeting during the past 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.

CHL does not meet this Standard because:

  •  The chair of the organization's board of directors and his spouse are both paid staff members.

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.

CHL 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.

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

  • Did not identify total projected administrative 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.

CHL does not meet this standard because:

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

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.

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

  • A summary of program service accomplishments.
  • A roster of the board of directors.
  • Total income.
  • 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.

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.

CHL does not meet this Standard because:

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 13.
Children with Hair Loss (CHL) meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

CWHL aims to provide children hair replacement at no cost, once a year if needed until the age of 21. The organization also provides turbans, hats, bands of hair, custom fitting and cleaning packages.

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

  
Program services 228,110
Total Program Expenses: $228,110
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Regina Villemure, CEO/Founder
Compensation*:
$32,400

Chair of the Board: Jim Beri
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Ford Motor retiree

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 3

*2009 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, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and sweepstakes.
Fund raising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $322,650, 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 CHL's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Fundraising income 180,105
Donations 108,948
Special events (net) 27,597
Grants 6,000
Rent 3,600
Interest income 63
Total Income $326,313


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 84%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 13% 

Total income   $326,313
  Program expenses $228,110
  Fund raising expenses 7,069
  Administrative expenses 33,863
 
Total expenses   $269,042
Income in Excess of Expenses   57,271
Beginning net assets   219,524
Ending net assets   276,795
Total liabilities   218,505
Total assets   $495,300


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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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