BBB Wise Giving Report for
Assyrian Aid Society of America

BBB Wise Giving Report issued July 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: Assyrian Aid Society of America
Address: 350 Berkeley Park Boulevard
  Berkeley, CA 94707
Phone: 510-527-9997
Web Address: www.assyrianaid.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1991, California
Affiliates: 8 chapters

Stated Purpose: "to help Assyrians in need, promote Assyrian culture and heritage, build a structure capable of responding to unexpected crises that require immediate mobilization, and to focus American and international attention on the needs and humanitarian concerns of our Assyrian people, particularly in Bet Nahrain."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Assyrian Aid Society of America (AASA) does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

AASA does not meet this Standard because its budget did not identify:

  • Total projected program service expenses.
  • Total projected administrative expenses.

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.

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

  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
AASA meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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Programs

               

AASA in collaboration with its sister organization, Assyrian Aid Society-Iraq, funds war refugee relief programs, village and home reconstruction programs, irrigation and electrification projects, education programs from pre-school through college, and medical projects that have included shipments of medicines and supplies, medical clinics, and have facilitated surgeries in the United States for Assyrians from the Middle East. Currently, the organization is focused on education in northern Iraq. AASA reports that nearly 5,000 students in 54 schools are being taught all subjects in Assyrian and that the students utilize textbooks translated into Assyrian and published by the Assyrian Aid Society.

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

  
Support to Assryian Aid Society - Iraq 303,408
Other Assyrian support 5,000
Total Program Expenses: $308,408
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Narsai M. David, CEO
Compensation*:
 None

Chair of the Board: Narsai M. David
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Food and Wine Editor at KCBS radio

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 1

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. According to AASA, the CEO is not compensated.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 21% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $466,103, 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 AASA's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Special events 177,672
Direct public support 129,028
Grants and contributions received 98,261
Lifeline support pledge 61,142
Miscellaneous income 506
Interest income 54
Total Income $466,663


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 65%  Fund Raising: 20%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $466,663
  Program expenses $308,408
  Fund raising expenses 97,712
  Administrative expenses 71,410
 
Total expenses   $477,530
Expenses in Excess of Income   (10,867)
Beginning net assets   94,245
Other Changes in Net Assets 16,143
Ending net assets   99,521
Total liabilities   4,407
Total assets   $103,928

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" represents a prior period adjustment.

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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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