BBB Wise Giving Report for
Mission India

BBB Wise Giving Report issued April 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires April 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: Mission India
Address: Post Office Box 141312
  Grand Rapids, MI 49514
Phone: 616-453-8855
877-644-6342
Web Address: www.missionindia.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1990, Michigan
Affiliates: Mission India U.K.
Stated Purpose: "to assist Indian churches and indigenous mission agencies in planting reproducing churches in a systematic, measurable way."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Mission India (MI) does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

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

  • Included total projected program service expenses, however, did not break these expenses down by major program category (church planter training, adult literacy, children's bible clubs).

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.

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

  • Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements.

Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures - Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

MI does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.missionindia.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.
Concerning Standards 16 and 17, MI responded with the following comment:

"Persecution of minority Christians has increased greatly in India in recent years. Often, these believers are accused of bribing India's poor to convert to Christianity. Mission India has adopted a very cautious approach to the kinds of information we post on the internet, because it would be easily available to radical groups who are looking to halt the spread of Christianity in India.

We realize our caution will affect our rating with the Wise Giving Alliance, but strongly feel it is most important we protect the ministry workers in India. . . Anyone interested in more information about our work in India is invited to contact our office directly at 877-644-6342."
Mission India (MI) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

MI partners with indigenous Christian ministry organizations, churches, and outreach organizations to plant worship groups in communities throughout India. The organization provides training and materials for three core programs: Children's Bible Clubs, year long Adult Literacy classes, and a Church Planter training program.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, MI's program expenses were:

  
Children's Bible clubs 9,682,454
Adult literacy 2,305,338
Church planter training 1,770,008
Tsunami relief 5,920
Total Program Expenses: $13,763,720
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : David Stravers, President
Compensation*:
$119,237

Chair of the Board: Brad Rottschafer
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, Mosaic Properties, Inc

Board Size: 10

Paid Staff Size: 26

*April 1, 2008 - March 31, 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, telephone, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving arrangements.
Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $20,024,818, 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 MI's consolidated audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 11,167,024
Gifts-in-kind 8,857,794
Investment income 95,496
Other income 39,070
Foreign currency translation adjustment -516,489
Total Income $19,642,895


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 79%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $19,642,895
  Program expenses $13,763,720
  Fund raising expenses 2,184,009
  Administrative expenses 1,447,632
 
Total expenses   $17,395,361
Income in Excess of Expenses   2,247,534
Beginning net assets   4,614,707
Ending net assets   6,862,241
Total liabilities   188,691
Total assets   $7,050,932

Note: According to MI's audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2009, the organization received $8,857,794 in in-kind contributions consisting of skilled services provided by teachers ($6,968,376) and materials ($1,889,418).

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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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