BBB Wise Giving Report for
Compatible Technology International

BBB Wise Giving Report issued March 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires March 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: Compatible Technology International
Address: 800 Transfer Road, Suite 6
  St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-632-3912
Web Address: www.compatibletechnology.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1981, Minnesota
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to improve the lives of people in developing countries by designing food and water technologies that are sustainable and appropriate to local cultures, and by collaborating with in-country organizations to identify needs and to achieve widespread use of our technologies to relieve hunger and poverty."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Compatible Technology International (CTI) does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

CTI 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.

CTI does not meet this Standard because:

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

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.

CTI does not meet this Standard because the organization does not have a privacy policy on its website, www.compatibletechnology.org that includes the recommended information.

CTI meets the remaining provision of the Standard.
Compatible Technology International (CTI) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

CTI designs culturally appropriate devices to help poor farmers process their crops more effectively. CTI reports that the organization’s approach to sustainable development has resulted in a better food yield, improved nutrition and increased family incomes. CTI reports that working with other organizations and individuals the organization has been able to implement more than 60 projects in more than 25 countries around the world, helping thousands of people live better lives. Many of CTI’s projects involve the use of a hand-powered burr mill to grind a variety of crops including: ground nuts (commonly referred to as peanuts), which are a protein source in many countries in Africa, as well as Bangladesh and Haiti; leaves from the Moringa tree, which are ground into a nutritional powder that is added to food as a nutritional supplement; sorghum is ground into flour for use in baked goods in El Salvador; and cocoa beans are being ground by a women’s cooperative in Haiti. The organization’s most recent development is simple equipment to process pearl millet in Mali and elsewhere.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, CTI's program expenses were:

  
Technology development 536,825
Water enhancement 32,298
Nutrition 28,036
Post harvest food processing 17,632
Total Program Expenses: $614,791
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Roger Salway, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $55,630

Chair of the Board: Gary Ballman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Sr. Vice President and Product Development, DeCare

Board Size: 20

Paid Staff Size: 6

*July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. CTI reports that Roger Salway's compensation covers the period September 2008 to June 2009. Former Executive Director Rod Brown received compensation in the amount of $5,925 for the period July 2008 to September 2008.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, cause-related marketing, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $650,801, 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 CTI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
In-kind contributions 397,001
Contributions 216,271
Special events (net) 37,529
Product sales 23,496
Investment and other income 6,709
Total Income $681,006


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 84%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 11% 

Total income   $681,006
  Program expenses $614,791
  Fund raising expenses 37,961
  Administrative expenses 78,658
 
Total expenses   $731,410
Expenses in Excess of Income   (50,404)
Beginning net assets   323,169
Other Changes in Net Assets (37,143)
Ending net assets   235,622
Total liabilities   3,126
Total assets   $238,748

Note 1: In the financial section above Other Changes in Net Assets in the amount of -$37,143 is the unrealized loss in beneficial interest in assets held by Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation.

Note 2. CTI reports receiving in-kind donations in the amount of $397,001. Included in the amount is $371,312 (technology and research services), $25,389 (legal services), and $300 (grinder manufacturing).

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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.

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