BBB Wise Giving Report for
Indian Law Resource Center

BBB Wise Giving Report issued June 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires June 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: Indian Law Resource Center
Address: 602 North Ewing Street
  Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-449-2006
202-547-2800
Web Address: www.indianlaw.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1978, District of Columbia
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to provide legal assistance and advocacy witout charge to Indian and Alaska native nations throughout North, Central, and South America who are working to protect their land, resources, human rights, environment, and cultural heritage."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Indian Law Resource Center (ILRC) does not meet the following 7 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

ILRC does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.

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.

ILRC does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two board meetings during 2010.

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.

ILRC 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.

ILRC does not meet this Standard because:

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

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.

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

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

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.

ILRC does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization does not provide electronic access to its 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.

ILRC does not meet this Standard because:

  •  The organization does not provide access to a privacy policy on its website, www.indianlaw.org.
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.
Indian Law Resource Center (ILRC) meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

ILRC is an international, non-profit law and advocacy organization established and directed by American Indians to ensure the strength and security of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas.

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

  
Program services 960,544
Total Program Expenses: $960,544
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Robert T. Coulter, Executive Director and President
Compensation*:
$128,348

Chair of the Board: Susan Masten
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Co-President of Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations

Board Size: 7

Paid Staff Size: 12

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

              

Method(s) Used:

Special events, grant proposals, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 17% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,408,272, 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 ILRC's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Grants 1,315,717
Contributions 85,865
Other 30,404
Contract services 13,500
Bequests and trusts 6,690
Interest 5,773
Gain on investments 1,483
Total Income $1,459,432


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 67%  Fund Raising: 17%  Administrative: 16% 

Total income   $1,459,432
  Program expenses $960,544
  Fund raising expenses 239,216
  Administrative expenses 225,747
 
Total expenses   $1,425,507
Income in Excess of Expenses   33,925
Beginning net assets   1,613,545
Ending net assets   1,647,470
Total liabilities   64,972
Total assets   $1,712,442


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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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