BBB Wise Giving Report for
Drug Policy Alliance

BBB Wise Giving Report issued January 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires January 2014


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: Drug Policy Alliance
Address: 70 West 36th Street, 16th Floor
  New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-613-8020
212-216-0035
Web Address: www.drugpolicy.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1987, District of Columbia
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to promote alternatives to the war on drugs based on science, compassion, health and human rights."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) does not meet the following 4 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.

DPA does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011.

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.

DPA 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.

DPA does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has never completed an effectiveness assessment.

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.

DPA does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization shares personal information about its donors with others, it does not provide a means (such as a check off box) in its direct mail appeals for donors to opt out of having their information shared.
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: 15.
Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

DPA aims to transform the way society thinks about and addresses drugs and the people who use them. DPA also advocates for a change of drug policy and an end to the war on drugs based on values of reason, compassion, justice, and freedom. The organization advocates a shift in drug policy from the current criminal justice model to a public health approach. DPA reports that it addresses four core issues: criminal justice systems, marijuana policy reform, harm reduction and public health, and youth and drugs. It reports that it uses integrated advocacy tactics to advance its specific policy goals, with each project combining grassroots mobilization, media outreach, policy development, litigation, and policymaker education.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011, DPA's program expenses were:

  
Program services 6,217,545
Total Program Expenses: $6,217,545
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$236,437

Chair of the Board: Ira Glasser
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired Executive Director of the ACLU

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 51

*June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010 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, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $9,023,105, 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 DPA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Grants and contributions 8,096,266
Membership 767,402
Other income 504,982
Drug Policy Action administration 123,515
Acquistion 109,879
Registrations and conference income 51,425
Special events 49,558
Publications and videos 13,991
Investment income 12,255
Total Income $9,729,273


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 69%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 18% 

Total income   $9,729,273
  Program expenses $6,217,545
  Fund raising expenses 1,204,645
  Administrative expenses 1,616,596
 
Total expenses   $9,038,786
Income in Excess of Expenses   690,487
Beginning net assets   6,881,298
Ending net assets   7,571,785
Total liabilities   933,352
Total assets   $8,505,137


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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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