Better Business Bureau Report for
Virginia Sheriffs' Institute

Better Business Bureau Report issued November 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires November 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: Virginia Sheriffs' Institute
Address: 701 E. Franklin St., Ste 706
  Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-225-7152
804-225-7162
Web Address: http://www.virginiasheriffs.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1933, Virginia
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The Virginia Sheriffs' Institute, Inc., a Virginia nonstock, nonprofit, tax exempt corporation (the "Corporation"), shall be organized and operated for the following purposes: Section 1. Exclusively charitable and educational purposes and for the purpose of preventing cruelty to children by providing financial aid to boys and girls under twenty one years of age who are in need of home, camp, training, or school facilities such purpose to be accomplished primarily through a scholarship program. Section 2. Exclusively educational and training purposes, by sponsoring lectures, seminars and similar training type programs suitable for presentation at schools, conventions, conferences, seminars, and through the various media. Said programs are to be directed toward the improvement of the quality of law enforcement and jail administration in the Commonwealth of Virginia and shall cover subject areas including, but not limited to, crime prevention, public safety, criminal investigation developments, civil rights of confined persons, recent developments in the law, preventive law, trial tactics, career opportunities and legislation. Said programs shall be for the benefit of Virginia sheriffs, their deputies and staff, and the general public. Section 3. To do and perform all acts which may be incidental to and come legitimately within the scope of the foregoing purposes or which may be necessary or appropriate for the carrying out and accomplishment of the foregoing purposes.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Virginia Sheriffs' Institute does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 8: Program Service Expense Ratio - Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

Virginia Sheriffs' Institute does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, the organization spent $346,785 or 53% of its total expenses ($655,005) on program service activities.
Virginia Sheriffs' Institute meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

The Virginia Sheriffs' Institute (VSI) encourages charitable and educational activities among the sheriffs and deputies within the Commonwealth of Virginia to educate the public and to do any and all things to promote the enforcement of law and order and the suppression of crime. VSI sponsors numerous programs each year including the a spring educational conference for sheriffs and deputies, the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, a newly elected sheriffs’ school, the National Sheriffs’ Institute educational program, the Victim Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime Conference, Concerns of Police Survivors, lawful employment training for sheriffs, Virginia State Police Association Emergency Relief Fund, judical threat seminars in conjuction with the US Marshals Service and the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund to honor Virginia officers killed in the line of duty. In addition, the VSI provides scholarships to people throughout Virginia who major in criminal justice at a Virginia college or university and provide an immediate $5,000 in-the-line-of-duty death benefit to any sheriff or deputy killed in the line of duty to address distress and poverty situations only, and to comply with the IRS requirements to avoid inurement issues.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Virginia Sheriffs' Institute's program expenses were:

  
Newsletters 80,379
VSA Management Fee 68,837
Conferences 57,168
Renewal and Report to members 40,176
Other 28,854
Scholarships 26,440
In Line of Duty Death Benefit 15,000
National Sheriffs' Institute Fees 13,725
Professional Fees 4,251
Data Processing Fee 3,304
Office 2,987
Donations 2,500
Travel 1,671
Printing 589
BOD Meetings 416
Information Technology 315
Depreciation 173
Total Program Expenses: $346,785
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : The Virginia Sheriffs' Institute does not have any employees., N/A
Compensation*:
 $

Chair of the Board: Vanessa R. Crawford
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Sheriff of the City of Petersburg

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 0

*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, internet, membership
Fund raising costs were 26% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $666,557, 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 Virginia Sheriffs' Institute's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Renewal of Member Dues 274,829
Prospect Mailing 162,402
Newsletter Donation 128,501
Net Realized and Unrealized gains and losses on securities 71,930
Spring Conference Reimbursements 67,445
Card Appeal 43,694
Special Appeal 34,457
Interest and Dividents 18,308
Magnet Appeal 17,174
Other 11,388
Donor Contribution 5,500
Total Income $835,628


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 53%  Fund Raising: 26%  Administrative: 21% 

Total income   $835,628
  Program expenses $346,785
  Fund raising expenses 172,145
  Administrative expenses 136,075
 
Total expenses   $655,005
Income in Excess of Expenses   180,623
Beginning net assets   817,321
Ending net assets   997,944
Total liabilities   31,079
Total assets   $1,029,023


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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.

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