BBB Wise Giving Report for
Reach Ministries International

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: Reach Ministries International
Address: Post Office Box 789
  Greeley, CO 80622
Phone: 970-392-0877
Web Address: http://www.reachwc.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1991, Colorado
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to equip Christians with the skills and opportunities necessary to impact their world."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Reach Ministries International (RMI) does not meet the following 8 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

Reach Ministries International, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held one meeting in the past fiscal year.

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.

Reach Ministries International, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although an effectiveness assessment was performed, it did not produce a written report outlining the results of its most recent effectiveness assessment.

Standard 11: Financial Statements - Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $250,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $100,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

RMI does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization's gross income exceeded $250,000, it did not prepare audited financial statements for the past 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.

Reach Ministries International, Inc. does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:

  • Did not include a breakdown of administrative or fund raising expenses.

 

Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

RMI does not meet this Standard because its IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2009:

  • Reports the organization had no fund raising expenses.
  • Reports the organization had no administrative expenses.

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.

Reach Ministries International, Inc. 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.

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.

RMI does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.reachwc.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.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.

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.

RMI does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its website, www.reachwc.org, does not provide access to a privacy policy.
Because RMI reported no fund raising or administrative expenses, the Alliance is unable to verify whether the organization meets Standards 8 and 9.

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and annual report and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability: 10, and 16.
Reach Ministries International (RMI) meets the remaining 8 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Reach selects, organizes, coordinates and supervises "workcamp communities". Workcamp communities are selected based on actual need, availability of sufficient housing facility (usually a junior or senior high school) and local agency support. Planning begins approximately one and a half years prior to the actual workcamp. Home repair projects are performed on the homes of the elderly, handicapped and poor. The repairs include basic weatherization, painting, drywall projects, repair and construction of porches, steps, wheelchair ramps and roofs. All repairs are completed at no cost to the residents. Arrangements are also made for daily on-site visits by maintenance and home repair volunteers, to ensure quality workmanship. According to Reach, approximately 300 to 450 junior and senior high school youth and their adult leaders from Christian youth groups and Christian organizations across the US and Canada join together for a week of hard work and education at each Reach workcamp. Work crews consist of both students and adults. A ratio of one adult to five students is required. Each participant pays tuition for his or her participation. A workcamp provides meals, lodging, programming and insurance for the participants as well as building materials, work description write-ups, skill resource pages and supplies for the home repair projects. All participants take part in morning quiet times; daily on-site devotions, evening programs and youth group reflections. Servanthood is the general theme of all activities. These activities work to build community and self-esteem, encourage spiritual growth and enable participants to understand their role in combating poverty.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, RMI's program expenses were:

  
Programs 1,139,018
Total Program Expenses: $1,139,018
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Michael S. Jones, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$61,114

Chair of the Board: Jerry Windsor
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Technology and Industrial Arts Teacher, co-founder of RMI

Board Size: 8

Paid Staff Size: 20

*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 and Internet appeals.
According to RMI's 2009 IRS Form 990, the organization reported no fund raising expenses. See the Evaluation Conclusions section of this report.
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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 Reach Ministries International, Inc.'s IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Camp registration fees 1,106,600
Contributions and grants 32,339
Other revenue 8,418
Investment income 778
Total Income $1,148,135


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 100%    Administrative: 0 

Total income   $1,148,135
  Program expenses $1,139,018
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses
 
Total expenses   $1,139,018
Income in Excess of Expenses   9,117
Beginning net assets   245,951
Ending net assets   255,068
Total liabilities   16,542
Total assets   $271,610

Note: RMI did not recognize any fund raising or administrative expenses. The Alliance does not agree with this allocation of expenses, please see evaluative conclusions section for details.

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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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