Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Easter Seals
Address:	233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2400
	Chicago, IL 60606
Phone:	312-726-6200
Web Address:	www.easterseals.com

Easter Seals (ES) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

ES helps individuals with disabilities and special needs, such as autism, and their families. ES offers services to help people with disabilities address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals. According to ES, the organization assists more than 1.6 million children and adults with disabilities and their families annually through a nationwide network of more than 550 centers. Each center provides services tailored to meet the specific needs of the community it serves. ES's primary services include: medical rehabilitation, early intervention, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and hearing therapy; job training and employment; inclusive child care; adult and senior day services; and camping and recreation. ES also provides public education and advocates for programs and legislation to help people with disabilities achieve independence, such as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Some ($15,214,100 or 19%) of ES's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

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

Program development	48,184,900
Public health education	14,956,600
Fundraising advocacy	7,132,600
Professional education and training	3,692,000
Management advisory	3,563,500
Advocacy	2,348,400
Research	674,100
Total Program Expenses:	$80,552,100

Chief Executive : James E. Williams, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*:

$833,000

Chair of the Board: Stephen F. Rossman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney

Board Size: 19

Paid Staff Size: 112

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

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 14% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $89,463,200, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

ES incurred joint costs of $27,727,300 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $15,214,100 was allocated to program expenses and $12,513,200 was allocated to fund raising expenses.

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 ES's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds
Contributions	52,661,700
Government grants	33,323,200
Fees from affiliates	7,019,800
In-kind contributions	3,440,400
Investment return	2,122,500
Sales to affiliates	390,200
Miscellaneous revenue	170,600
Special events	37,900
Change in value of split interest agreements	-128,000
Total Income	$99,038,300

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 4%

Total income				$99,038,300
	Program expenses			$80,552,100
	Fund raising expenses			12,906,900
	Administrative expenses			3,406,900
Total expenses				$96,865,900
Income in Excess of Expenses				2,172,400
Beginning net assets				3,560,800
Other Changes in Net Assets				(179,800)
Ending net assets				5,553,400
Total liabilities				18,841,900
Total assets				$24,395,300

Note 1: For 2010, ES reported $3,440,400 in in-kind income in the form of public service announcements.

Note 2: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents -$179,800 for pension liability adjustments other than net periodic benefit cost.