BBB Wise Giving Report for
Bridges to Community

BBB Wise Giving Report issued August 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires August 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Bridges to Community
Address: 95 Croton Avenue
  Ossining, NY 10562
Phone: 914-923-2200
Web Address: www.bridgestocommunity.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1993, New York
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to bring people from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds together to work, learn and reflect."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

BC meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Note: In finding that BC meets Standard 11, which calls for audited financial statements to be completed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Alliance considered that, although the auditor was not able to express an opinion on changes in net assets, functional expenses and cashflows, this was due to the fact that prior financial statements had to be adjusted since certain revenues had not been accounted for on an accrual basis. The 2010 audited financial statements include the figures using the restated amount.
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Programs

               

BC works in five program areas: housing, health, education, economic development, and service learning. Through its housing program, the organization builds homes for poor families in Nicaragua. BC’s health programs provide sanitary latrines, clean drinking water, medical care, and public health information to Nicaraguan communities. Furthermore, through its education program, BC provides scholarships and builds as well as helps to repair schools. The organization’s economic development program provides interest free micro-loans to poor Nicaraguans seeking to establish or expand small businesses and family farms. Also, its service learning program brings North American volunteers on service trips to Nicaragua where they are able to engage with community members and help to participate in projects.

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

  
Service learning 969,080
Housing 318,632
Education projects 223,842
Health projects 64,894
Economic development 25,187
Total Program Expenses: $1,601,635
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Kevin Mestrich, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $122,279

Chair of the Board: Bart Tyler
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Owner and operator of Kelloggs and Lawrence hardware store

Board Size: 20

Paid Staff Size: 57

*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, door to door, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $891,896, 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 BC's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Trip participant fees 1,278,691
Project grants 348,346
General donations 309,068
Special events and fundraising 182,817
Housing project 31,405
Health project 20,260
Other income and gains 8,439
Investment return 1,489
Total Income $2,180,515


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 85%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $2,180,515
  Program expenses $1,601,635
  Fund raising expenses 159,006
  Administrative expenses 138,617
 
Total expenses   $1,899,258
Income in Excess of Expenses   281,257
Beginning net assets   347,807
Ending net assets   629,064
Total liabilities   364,554
Total assets   $993,618


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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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