Better Business Bureau Report for
Legal Advocates for Abused Women

Better Business Bureau Report issued December 2007
Better Business Bureau Report expires December 2009


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: Legal Advocates for Abused Women
Address: 1027 South Vandeventer, 6th Floor
  Saint Louis, MO 63110
Phone: 314-535-0684
Web Address: www.laawstl.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1995, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to help victims of abuse in times of crisis. LAAW fulfills its mission by promoting increased access to services for battered women and children through early intervention, legal advocacy and unduplicated partnerships with law enforcement, civil and criminal court systems and child protective services.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Legal Advocates for Abused Women (LAAW) does not meet the following 3 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.

The average number of directors attending LAAW Board of Directors meetings was less than 50% of the total board. 

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.

  • The budget provided by the organization does not clearly identify the projected amounts to be spent on each of the major program service 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.

The organization does not meet this Standard because its annual report does not identify total end of year net assets.

Legal Advocates for Abused Women (LAAW) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

LAAW has nine programs unduplicated in the St. Louis area: St. Louis City, and St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln and Warren counties. Services are free for all victims of domestic violence without discrimination. LAAW provides free legal representation at Order of Protection hearings, legal information and advice, court advocacy, immediate and on-going crisis support and other services for battered women and children who are poor and underserved. Through its community outreach LAAW educates victims and professionals (attorneys, court personnel, law enforcement officers, child protective workers and others) about the Adult Abuse Law and Orders of Protection.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006, LAAW's program expenses were:

  
Legal Services Program 374,196
Crisis Support Program 304,035
Community Education Program 30,115
Total Program Expenses: $708,346
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Lynn Loebner Rothbarth, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $72,100

Chair of the Board: Mardi Montello
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney

Board Size: 19

Paid Staff Size: 14

*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, grant proposals, internet, planned giving arrangements
Fund raising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $719,464, 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 LAAW's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006.

Source of Funds  
Government grants 429,852
Contributions 147,132
In-kind contributed services 83,282
Special events 59,198
Other income 14,796
Net realized gain on investments 5,864
Interest and dividends 3,636
Total Income $743,760


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 6%  Administrative: 14% 

Total income   $743,760
  Program expenses $708,346
  Fund raising expenses 52,143
  Administrative expenses 121,529
 
Total expenses   $882,018
Expenses in Excess of Income   (138,258)
Beginning net assets   216,225
Other Changes in Net Assets 72,970
Ending net assets   150,937
Total liabilities   71,397
Total assets   $222,334


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