Better Business Bureau Report for
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Better Business Bureau Report issued July 2010
Better Business Bureau Report expires July 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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Address: 1716 E. Franklin Street
  Richmond, VA 23223
Phone: 804-643-2474
Web Address: www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org
Back To Top

Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1982, Virginia
Affiliates: The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, A More Perfect Union
Stated Purpose: The mission of the Interfaith Center is “to empower Virginians to create social justice for all by advocating for systemic change."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity 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.

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors
  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.

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.

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.virginiainterfaithcenter.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.
In addition, the Richmond Better Business Bureau requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 4Standards for Charity Accountability: 3, 8, 9, and 13.
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

We are a nonpartisan coalition of faith communities working to create progressive public policy by engaging people of faith, educating the public about social issues, the legislative process, and the call to advocacy. The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy unites people of faith in Virginia. Through partnerships with other statewide non-profit advocacy organizations and our own grassroots networks, we empower faithful advocates to: Learn about the issues challenging our communities; Pray for guidance and discernment; and Act to make Virginia a more just and compassionate Commonwealth. Our approach is to create a collaborative system of advocacy which includes fiscal and legislative analysis, issue education, grassroots organizing, and public awareness.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy's program expenses were:

  
Policy Advocacy 650,767
Total Program Expenses: $650,767
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : C. Douglas Smith, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $80,000

Highest Paid Executive: Michael Cassidy,Executive Director, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis
Compensation*: $85,000

Chair of the Board: Rev. Dr. Charles Baugham
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Representative, Baptist General Convention

Board Size: 31

Paid Staff Size: 12

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, grant proposals, internet, membership
Fund raising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $702,012, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy incurred joint costs of $801,560 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $642,255 was allocated to program expenses, $32,223 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $127,082 was allocated to administrative expenses.
Back To Top

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.
Back To Top

Financial

               

The following information is based on Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contributions & grants 702,012
Investment income 7,257
Total Income $709,269


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 4%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $709,269
  Program expenses $650,767
  Fund raising expenses 32,223
  Administrative expenses 116,041
 
Total expenses   $799,031
Expenses in Excess of Income   (89,762)
Beginning net assets   534,416
Ending net assets   444,654
Total liabilities   560,994
Total assets   $1,005,648


Back To Top

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.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity