BBB Wise Giving Report for
Batey Relief Alliance

BBB Wise Giving Report issued July 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires July 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: Batey Relief Alliance
Address: P.O. Box 300565
  Brooklyn, NY 11230-0565
Phone: 917-627-5026
Web Address: www.bateyrelief.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1997, New York
Affiliates: BRA Dominicana, BRA Haiti, and 1 chapter

Stated Purpose: "to unite local grassroots groups, faith-based ganizations, government agencies, universities, and the international community in a strategic partnership to help create a productive and self-sufficient environment, through health and development programs, for children and families severely affected by poverty, disease and hunger in the Caribbean."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) does not meet the following 2 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.

BRA does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors met twice in the past year.  The organization indicates that it also communicated with the board via email, however the Alliance does not consider this to be a "board meeting" as it does not allow for adequate interaction between members.

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.

BRA does not meet this Standard because, the organization's financial statements did not include:

  • A detailed breakdown of expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) which indicates what portion of expenses was allocated to each major program activity, fund raising, and administrative activities.
BRA meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

BRA works with international donors/partners that aim to provide a positive social change in the developing world. Its regional arms (BRA Dominicana in the Dominican Republic and BRA Haiti) are involved in addressing the socio-economic and health needs of impoverished and vulnerable populations. Their target populations are the marginalized Haitian immigrant sugar cane cutters and their Dominican descendants who live inside the bateyes (sugar cane plantations rural communities), urban and rural slums, and border communities of the Dominican Republic that have limited access to sanitations, clean water, medical care and medicines, electricity, and education. Furthermore in Haiti, BRA assists border communities that are economically at risk and isolated from government support. The organization also implements projects within the United States that raise public awareness and education about its humanitarian efforts and issues of inequality, racial intolerance, human right, and HIV/AIDS.

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

  
Medical supplies to the poor 958,796
General program/BRA Dominicana 286,793
Total Program Expenses: $1,245,589
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ulrick Gaillard, J.D. , CEO
Compensation*:
$36,000

Chair of the Board: Dr. Thomas Beague
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Dentist, Elmont Family Dental Care

Board Size: 7

Paid Staff Size: 47

*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 $2,312,870, 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 BRA's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions, grants, cash 1,354,074
In-kind grants 958,796
Interest income 2,052
Total Income $2,314,922


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 89%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 3%  Other Expenses: 3%

Total income   $2,314,922
  Program expenses $1,245,589
  Fund raising expenses 74,088
  Administrative expenses 42,347
  Other Expenses 39,833
Total expenses   $1,401,857
Income in Excess of Expenses   913,065
Beginning net assets   150,985
Ending net assets   1,064,050
Total liabilities   2,400
Total assets   $1,066,450

Note 1: In the above financial summary, "other expenses" include depreciation expense ($6,654), shipping/transportation ($16,743), and travel/accomodation ($16,436).

Note 2: According to BRA's 2009 audited financial statements, the organization received in-kind donations in the amount $958,796 for medical supplies.

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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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