Better Business Bureau Report for
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog

Better Business Bureau Report issued March 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires March 2013


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: American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Address: 1721 South Mason Road
  St. Louis, MO 63131
Phone: 314-821-3647
Web Address: www.museumofthedog.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Formerly known as:The Dog Museum of America
The Dog Museum

Year, State Incorporated: 1981, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving the art, artifacts, and literature of the dog for the purposes of education, aesthetic enjoyment, and appreciation of the dog and the human/canine relationship."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog (AKCMD) does not meet the following 6 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.

AKCMD does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors did not hold a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings in the past fiscal year.

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.

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

AKCMD does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, the organization spent $228,143 or 50% of its total expenses ($456,006) on program service activities.

Standard 10: Ending Net Assets - 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.

AKCMD does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, the organization's total unrestricted net assets were $2,906,506, or more than six times the charity's total expenses of $456,006.

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.

AKCMD 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).

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.

AKCMD does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog (AKCMD) meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The organization is a nonprofit fine arts museum with permanent exhibits of art and artifacts of the dog by artistic masters through the ages. Special thematic exhibits are presented twice a year in the Sally Johnson Spillane Special Exhibit Gallery and frequently include displays of art by members of the Artists' Registry. The Artists' Registry is a biographical listing of more than two hundred artists available by commission for dog portraits or dog-related art. The Museum presents special programs including Guest Dog of the Week on Saturday and Sunday afternoons as well as an annual Open House in the Fall. Dog clubs, national and local, and dog-related organizations are encouraged to use the facilities for meetings, dog activities, and special events. The Hope A. Levy Memorial Library is available for research by appointment.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, AKCMD's program expenses were:

  
Program services 216,825
Cost of sales 11,318
Total Program Expenses: $228,143
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Barbara Jedda McNab, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$86,931

Chair of the Board: Dorothy Welsh, President
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired

Board Size: 23

Paid Staff Size: 9

*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, invitations to fund raising events, internet, membership
Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $271,763, 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 AKCMD's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Unrealized/Realized Gain on Investments 274,805
Contributions from the public 259,208
Memberships and admissions 42,339
Interest and Investment Income 29,507
Gift Shop sales 22,400
Theatre Benefit 12,555
Art donations 8,350
Loss on Disposal of Property -1,000
Total Income $648,164


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 50%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 41% 

Total income   $648,164
  Program expenses $228,143
  Fund raising expenses 42,018
  Administrative expenses 185,845
 
Total expenses   $456,006
Income in Excess of Expenses   192,158
Beginning net assets   11,777,579
Ending net assets   11,969,737
Total liabilities   32,147
Total assets   $12,001,884


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