BBB Wise Giving Report for
Operation Never Forgotten

BBB Wise Giving Report issued December 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires December 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: Operation Never Forgotten
Address: Post Office Box 132
  Saline , MI 48176
Phone: 406-581-8358
Web Address: www.operationneverforgotten.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2007, Michigan
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to educate and promote community awareness of American military personnel, American Veterans, Blue-Star and Gold-Star families and the courage, commitment, patriotism and sacrifices they all have made."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Operation Never Forgotten (ONF) does not meet the following 7 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.

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

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.
  • Have an approved conflict of interest policy.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - 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.

ONF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

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.

ONF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization did not provide the Alliance with financial statements.

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.

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

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

ONF does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

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.

ONF does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.operationneverforgotten.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.

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.

ONF does not meet this Standard because:

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability: 8, 9, 12, 13, and 15.
Operation Never Forgotten (ONF) meets the remaining 8 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Program

              

ONF connects military and civilian worlds through non-partisan public service announcements (PSAs).  ONF's images are seen along highways, in airports, and in TV ads. ONF separates “politics and war” from the “warrior” through non-partisan PSA advertising for post 9-11 deployed troops, wounded warriors, fallen heroes, veterans and military families.

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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Linda Kelly, President
Compensation*:
$0

Chair of the Board: Ms. Linda Kelly
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President

Board Size: 6

Paid Staff Size: 0

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. ONF reports that Ms. Kelly is not compensated.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, internet appeals, and digital highway billboards.
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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

              

Financial information is not available because the organization did not provide financial statements and the IRS Form 990-EZ provided does not contain a functional breakdown of expenses.

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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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