BBB Wise Giving Report for
Church World Service

BBB Wise Giving Report issued June 2009
BBB Wise Giving Report expires June 2011


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Church World Service
Address: 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 700
  New York, NY 10115
Phone: 212-870-2061
800-297-1516
Web Address: www.churchworldservice.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1946, New York
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Church World Service (CWS) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

In partnership with local organizations, CWS nurtures sustainable development, aid in time of disaster, and assists refugees -- all in a non-sectarian fashion, based on human need. The organization responds to emergencies and follows up, when appropriate, with long-term support for rebuilding lives and communities. CWS resettles refugees and works to find durable solutions for the needs of uprooted people globally. When disaster strikes, CWS works to provide shelter, food, medicine, and technical assistance to help people survive and recover. CWS supports development projects ranging from farming to well-digging, literacy, healthcare, job training and micro-lending and micro-enterprise. To assist refugees and internally displaced persons, CWS helps provide food and shelter staples, medical services, educational tools, and other resources at camps. It helps families and communities return home and rebuild in the aftermath of war and chaos, and when going home is not an option, CWS works with its network of local affiliates and congregations to help some refugees resettle in the U.S. CWS also assists U.S. communities in responding to disasters, promotes equitable national and international policies (e.g. fair trade, support for people-centered development, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and refugees’ issues), provides educational resources, and nurtures ecumenical relations.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, CWS's program expenses were:

  
Refugee services 28,223,656
Disaster and emergency response 18,927,091
Self-help development 10,645,673
Education and advocacy 3,072,546
Mission relationships and witness 1,317,859
Total Program Expenses: $62,186,825
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO
Compensation*:
$278,478

Chair of the Board: Rt. Rev. Johncy Itty
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Episcopal Bishop

Board Size: 63

Paid Staff Size: 349

*July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 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 appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 22% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $43,958,054, 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 CWS's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contributions-public and community appeals 30,004,562
U.S. government programs 25,458,107
Contributions-member communions and related organizations 10,174,369
Donated materials 3,779,123
Other income 1,888,252
Revenues and gains 590,690
Total Income $71,895,103


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 5% 

Total income   $71,895,103
  Program expenses $62,186,825
  Fund raising expenses 9,575,545
  Administrative expenses 3,393,654
 
Total expenses   $75,156,024
Expenses in Excess of Income   (3,260,921)
Beginning net assets   7,737,543
Other Changes in Net Assets 4,189,211
Ending net assets   8,665,833
Total liabilities   17,699,950
Total assets   $26,365,783

Note 1: CWS's audited financial statements report in-kind donations in the amount of $3,779,123. Included in the amount is $2,657,340 (hygiene), $1,100,424 (school kits), $568,215 (baby kits), $475,776 (kids kits) and $90,750 (clean-up buckets).

Note 2: In the financial section of this report Other Changes in Net Assets in the amount of $4,189,211 for post retirement related changes other than net periodic pension cost.

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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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