BBB Wise Giving Report for
CRISTA Ministries

BBB Wise Giving Report issued March 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires March 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: CRISTA Ministries
Address: 19303 Fremont Avenue North
  Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: 206-546-7200
800-755-5022
Web Address: www.crista.org
Also known as:World Concern
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1955, Washington
Affiliates: World Concern Development Organization and CRISTA Ministries Canada
Stated Purpose: "to deliver real-life solutions that demonstrate the transforming love and hope found in Jesus Christ to people served through seven distinct ministries."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

CRISTA Ministries (CRISTA) does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

CRISTA does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Receive information about the financial arrangements made with outside fund raising firms and consultants hired in the past fiscal year.

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.

CRISTA does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:

  • Only included one program service category. It did not include a detailed breakdown of expenses for each of its major program activities (World Concern, CRISTA Senior Living, etc.).

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.

CRISTA does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
  • Did not identify 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.

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

  • Total end of year net assets.
CRISTA Ministries (CRISTA) meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

CRISTA consists of seven ministries providing spiritual and physical assistance. World Concern works through its Global Distribution Center and partnerships with international agencies and local people to provide emergency relief in the form of food, water, medical supplies and hygiene items. Community development is also provided through small business loans and agricultural items to help poor communities develop self-sufficiency. World Concern also works in Iraq assisting Iraqis in need with food baskets and health care. King’s Schools, Seattle Urban Academy, and CRISTA camps and conference centers offer educational assistance locally in the Pacific Northwest. Christian Veterinary Mission offers training for veterinarians working with poor communities to improve the care of livestock and other animals. CRISTA Senior Living maintains two communities for seniors offering residential, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. CRISTA Broadcasting operates four Christian radio stations in Washington and Texas.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, CRISTA's program expenses were:

  
Program services 136,360,000
Total Program Expenses: $136,360,000
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Robert Lonac, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $271,383

Chair of the Board: Deborah Limb
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Director of Structures Engineering, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Board Size: 17

Paid Staff Size: 1733

*July 1, 2009 - June 30, 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, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $90,036,000, 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 CRISTA's audited financial statements (combined with affiliates) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Gifts in-kind 62,016,000
Fees for services 57,750,000
Contributions 21,347,000
Government grants 6,673,000
Other 618,000
Miscellaneous income 304,000
Investment loss -2,163,000
Total Income $146,545,000


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 94%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 3% 

Total income   $146,545,000
  Program expenses $136,360,000
  Fund raising expenses 3,670,000
  Administrative expenses 4,828,000
 
Total expenses   $144,858,000
Income in Excess of Expenses   1,687,000
Beginning net assets   82,653,000
Ending net assets   84,340,000
Total liabilities   37,233,000
Total assets   $121,573,000

Note: For the year ended June 30, 2010, CRISTA had in-kind expenses in the amount of $62,016,000 which included medicines and medical supplies ($60,970,000), other supplies($663,000), seeds, food, and agricultural supplies ($378,000), and clothing ($5,000).

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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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