BBB Wise Giving Report for
Rafiki Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued September 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires September 2012


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: Rafiki Foundation
Address: 23315 CR 44A
  Eustis, FL 32736
Phone: 352-483-9131
Web Address: www.rafikifoundation.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1987, Texas
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to know God and to help others in ten African countries to know Him."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Rafiki Foundation (RF) does not meet the following 8 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.

RF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors met twice in the past fiscal 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.

RF does not meet this Standard because:

  • Four (4) members out of the 12 member board of directors (33%) are compensated indirectly as relatives of the paid CEO.

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.

RF 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 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.

RF does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has never completed an effectiveness assessment, and does not have one planned in the near future.

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.

RF 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 (children's centers, mini-missions, outreach, etc.).

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.

RF does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors
  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.

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.

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

  • 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.

RF does not meet this Standard because:

Rafiki Foundation (RF) meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

RF aims to provide a home, nurturing, education, and medical care for orphans in ten African countries. RF’s Widow’s Program provides job training and income generating opportunities for African widows and impoverished women. The organization also provides classical school curriculum and bible study for use by African partner church denominational schools.

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

  
Programs 6,681,680
Total Program Expenses: $6,681,680
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Rosemary M. Jensen, President
Compensation*:
$104,413

Chair of the Board: John Chunn
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney at Law

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 83

*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, grant proposals, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $6,654,529, 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 RF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Individual contributions 6,649,029
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments 141,034
Interest and dividend income 132,700
In-Kind contribution 5,500
Exchange operations (net) -26,415
Total Income $6,901,848


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 89%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $6,901,848
  Program expenses $6,681,680
  Fund raising expenses 205,965
  Administrative expenses 598,918
 
Total expenses   $7,486,563
Expenses in Excess of Income   (584,715)
Beginning net assets   31,610,635
Ending net assets   31,025,920
Total liabilities   1,019,479
Total assets   $32,045,399


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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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