BBB Wise Giving Report for
Wycliffe Bible Translators

BBB Wise Giving Report issued October 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires October 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: Wycliffe Bible Translators
Address: 11221 John Wycliffe Boulevard
  Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 800-992-5433
407-852-3600
Web Address: www.wycliffe.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1978, California
Affiliates: The Seed Company, Wycliffe Foundation, Moss Park Holdings, JAARS
Stated Purpose: "to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by 2025."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) does not meet the following 3 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.

WBT does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings in the past fiscal year.

Standard 4: Compensated Board Members - 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.

WBT does not meet this Standard because:

  • Five (5) members out of the 15 member board of directors (33%) are compensated as paid staff.

In response to this finding, the charity stated that:

"As a missionary membership organization, Wycliffe's by-laws allow a minority of members on the board of directors.  While missionaries are compensated by Wycliffe, no missionary member is compensated for their service on the board of directors.  Sixty percent of the board consists of non-compensated directors from outside the organization."

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.

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

  • Was not included. A detailed functional breakdown shows expenses by natural classification (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) and indicates what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities).
Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

WBT is part of an international association of organizations. Working with partners around the world, WBT aims to offer hope to minority languages in need of Scripture by providing language development, translation, literacy and mother-tongue education expertise in more than 90 countries. Currently, WBT reports that it is working on more than 1,300 Bible translation projects.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, WBT's program expenses were:

  
Bible translation and related programs 137,267,000
Total Program Expenses: $137,267,000
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Robert Creson, President
Compensation*:
$115,004

Highest Paid Executive: Leslie Kline,Vice President of Advancement
Compensation*: $159,222

Chair of the Board: Brady Anderson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, Consultant, Investor

Board Size: 15

Paid Staff Size: 518

*October 1, 2008 - September 30, 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, telemarketing, print advertisements, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $200,534,000, 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 WBT's audited financial statements (combined) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 200,534,000
Interest and dividends 3,344,000
Service 2,360,000
Net gain on sale of property and equipment 1,762,000
Other 1,040,000
Net realized/unrealized gain on investments 161,000
Total Income $209,201,000


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 84%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $209,201,000
  Program expenses $137,267,000
  Fund raising expenses 12,522,000
  Administrative expenses 13,923,000
 
Total expenses   $163,712,000
Income in Excess of Expenses   45,489,000
Beginning net assets   99,862,000
Other Changes in Net Assets (363,000)
Ending net assets   144,988,000
Total liabilities   22,814,000
Total assets   $167,802,000

Note 1: For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, WBT reported receiving $2,104,000 in in-kind contributions consisting of construction materials ($726,000), stock ($655,000), volunteer labor ($587,000), other goods ($116,000), and vehicles ($20,000).

Note 2: In the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to a change in value of fiduciary agreements.

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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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