Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Compassionate Friends
Address:	900 Jorie Boulevard, Suite 78
	Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone:	630-990-0010 877-969-0010
Web Address:	www.compassionatefriends.org

Compassionate Friends (TCF) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

TCF's local chapters hold monthly support group meetings for bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents. Meetings are facilitated by bereaved parent volunteers. The majority of TCF's chapters publish a monthly newsletter in their communities, which is mailed to bereaved parents, siblings and professionals. The organization also publishes a quarterly magazine, "We Need Not Walk Alone," which is distributed to chapters, patron donors and newly bereaved families. The organization holds a national conference each year, offering grief-related workshops for parents, siblings, and grandparents. In conjunction with this conference, a Chapter Leadership Training Program is held to offer training to leaders on how to successfully run a TCF chapter. Two additional Chapter Leadership Training Programs are held each year by the national organization to train chapter leadership. TCF also sponsors a Walk to Remember each year. The organization sponsors a Worldwide Candle Lighting to honor and remember all children gone too soon.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, TCF's program expenses were:

Program services	672,691
Total Program Expenses:	$672,691

Chief Executive : Patricia Loder, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$103,610

Chair of the Board: Patrick O'Donnell
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: retired

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 9

*2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, grant proposals, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $526,205, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

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.

The following information is based on TCF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds
Contributions	295,539
National conference	127,747
Memorial walk	122,163
Chapter support	121,001
TCF Foundation grant	84,473
Educational and resource materials	41,349
Investment income	34,088
In-kind donations	24,030
Other income	1,034
Total Income	$851,424

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 6%  Administrative: 11%

Total income				$851,424
	Program expenses			$672,691
	Fund raising expenses			46,549
	Administrative expenses			91,318
Total expenses				$810,558
Income in Excess of Expenses				40,866
Beginning net assets				495,437
Ending net assets				536,303
Total liabilities				29,830
Total assets				$566,133

Note: In 2010, TCF reported $24,030 of in-kind gifts for public awareness aid ($19,000) and meeting room space and food and beverages ($5,030).