Charity Review

Issued: February 2011 Expired: March 2013

United States Mission

Standards
Not Met
503-254-7640 Post Office Box 20156
Portland, OR 97294-0156 www.usmission.org
  1. Conclusions
  2. Purpose
  3. Programs
  4. Governance & Staff
  5. Fund Raising
  6. Tax Status
  7. Financial

United States Mission (USM) does not meet the following 3 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.

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

  • Have a person serving as chair. 

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 $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

USM does not meet this Standard because:

  •  The organization does not produce financial statements,

In response to this finding, USM stated,

"The United States Mission is not a 'charity.'  It is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, independent, interdenominational, religious corporation, a church.  As such, it is relieved of many of the accounting procedures and reporting obligations of secular charities.  The primary focus of the Mission is the practice of the Social Gospel.  Any questions may be referred to:  Brian Jones, Secretary-General, usmissionsg@q.com, 503-254-7640."

Although the Alliance recognizes that churches are exempt from filing regular tax returns with the IRS, and churches are not required by law to produce financial statements, it is our opinion that financial statements are an important part of non-profit accountability.

 

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.

USM does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.
In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, finances, and solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 10 Standards for Charity Accountability: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
United States Mission (USM) meets the remaining 7 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Programs

               

USM operates a long-term transitional housing program for the homeless. Participants become members of the organization and receive a shared room in a residence, two meals daily, amenities, and participate in a self-help work program, for which they receive direct monetary grants in aid (Grace and Favour). USM programs work toward achieving a sober-living environment, individual confidence, vocational skills, and funds to reintegrate back into the work force.
 

Financial

               

According to USM, the organization does not produce financial statements.  In addition, because USM has received tax-exempt status as a church, it is not required by the IRS to file regular tax returns.  Without this information, the Alliance is not able to report on USM's financial activities. 

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 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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Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff

Description:

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.

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

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Standard 2: Number of Board Members

Description:

Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings

Description:

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.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 4: Compensated Board Members

Description:

Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 5: Conflict of Interest

Description:

No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 8: Program Service Expense Ratio

Description:

Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio

Description:

Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 10: Ending Net Assets

Description:

Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 11: Financial Statements

Description:

Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

USM does not meet this Standard because:

In response to this finding, USM stated,

"The United States Mission is not a 'charity.'  It is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, independent, interdenominational, religious corporation, a church.  As such, it is relieved of many of the accounting procedures and reporting obligations of secular charities.  The primary focus of the Mission is the practice of the Social Gospel.  Any questions may be referred to:  Brian Jones, Secretary-General, usmissionsg@q.com, 503-254-7640."

Although the Alliance recognizes that churches are exempt from filing regular tax returns with the IRS, and churches are not required by law to produce financial statements, it is our opinion that financial statements are an important part of non-profit accountability.

 

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Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses

Description:

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.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements

Description:

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.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 14: Budget

Description:

Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 15: Misleading Appeals

Description:

Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.

The BBB is unable to verify if this organization meets this standard.

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Standard 16: Annual Report

Description:

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.

USM does not meet this standard because:

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Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy

Description:

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.

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 19: Cause Related Marketing

Description:

Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

The organization meets this standard.

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Standard 20: Complaints

Description:

Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fund raising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.

The organization meets this standard.

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