Better Business Bureau Report for
Call For Help, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued April 2006
Better Business Bureau Report expires April 2008


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: Call For Help, Inc.
Address: 9400 Lebanon Road
  Edgemont, IL 62203
Phone: 618-397-0968
Web Address: www.callforhelpinc.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1970, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "The mission of Call For Help is to provide individualized 24-hour crisis intervention and support services to enhance coping skills, and improve the lives of those served."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Call For Help, Inc. (CFH) does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

The organization's unaudited financial statements in its annual report list fundraising expenses as $81,308.  However, fundraising expenses reported in its 2005 IRS Form 990 is $478. 

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.

The organization states it does not have audited financial statements for the past fiscal year.

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.

The organization states it does not have audited financial statements for the past fiscal year.

Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

The organization's unaudited financial statements in its annual report list fundraising expenses as $81,308.  However, fundraising expenses reported in its 2005 IRS Form 990 is $478. 

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.

This organization does not have an online privacy policy. 

Call For Help, Inc. (CFH) meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Crisis telephone lines are answered 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Callers receive assistance with a varity of different issues. We offer information on and referral to sources in the community. We have a sexual assault unit that trains advocates to go to police stations and hospitals to guide and help victims of sexual assault and/or abuse. They also provide counseling to victims of all ages, race and gender. We provide a shelter to adults who are in a mental crisis and a shelter for homeless women 16 and over with or without children.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, CFH's program expenses were:

  
Transitional Living Center 861,338
Adult Residential Services and Sexual Assault Victims Care Unit 850,258
Short and Long Term Counseling 516,483
Foundation 276,671
Individual and Group Counseling 229,346
Information, Referral, and Food Pantry 117,954
Crisis Counseling 33,260
Total Program Expenses: $2,885,310
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Johnnie Penelton, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
$64,678

Chair of the Board: Jerry Obst
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Director of Community Health Services of St. Clair County Health Department

Co-Chair of the Board : Yvonne Jordan

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Social Worker

Board Size: 21

Paid Staff Size: 51

*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
Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $271,828, 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 CFH's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.

Source of Funds  
Government contributions 1,641,116
Prog. Serv. Fees 1,394,784
Indirect public support 173,397
Direct public support 98,431
Other revenue 6,090
Interest 93
Total Income $3,313,911


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 85%  Fund Raising: Less than 1%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $3,313,911
  Program expenses $2,885,310
  Fund raising expenses 478
  Administrative expenses 468,214
 
Total expenses   $3,077,331
Income in Excess of Expenses   236,580
Beginning net assets   3,011,999
Ending net assets   2,762,112
Total liabilities   683,745
Total assets   $3,445,857


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