Better Business Bureau Report for
Mentor St. Louis

Better Business Bureau Report issued October 2006
Better Business Bureau Report expires October 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: Mentor St. Louis
Address: 4236 Lindell Blvd., Suite 105
  St. Louis , MO 63108
Phone: 314-531-2570
Web Address: www.mentorstlouis.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1995, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to provide mentoring opportunities for St. Louis public school elementary students with caring, adult volunteers. Through structured programming, ongoing mentor training and positive and sustaining relationships, mentees are encouraged to develop a love of learning and ultimately reach their highest potential.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Mentor St. Louis (MSTL) does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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 organization's budget does not show projected program, administrative and fundraising expenses. 

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.

This organization did not send the BBB an annual report. 

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's privacy policy does not include what information is collected and how it will be used, how the user can contact the organization to correct their personal information in files, and what security measures the charity has in place to protect information. 

In addition, the St. Louis Better Business Bureau requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s effectiveness measures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 6.
Mentor St. Louis (MSTL) meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Provided mentors for students in elementary schools by recruiting adults from area churches and organizations. During the year, services were provided to 850 children with the help of 800 volunteer adult mentors.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005, MSTL's program expenses were:

  
Mentoring Program 465,479
Total Program Expenses: $465,479
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Keith Anton Willis, Sr. , Executive Director
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Jerome Schlichter
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Managing Partner, Schlichter, Bogard & Denton

Board Size: 20

Paid Staff Size: 5

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $597,154, 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 MSTL's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 351,588
Fundraising event revenue 245,566
Investment income 203
Total Income $597,357


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 75%  Fund Raising: 17%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $597,357
  Program expenses $465,479
  Fund raising expenses 107,932
  Administrative expenses 48,327
 
Total expenses   $621,738
Expenses in Excess of Income   (24,381)
Beginning net assets   213,276
Ending net assets   769,495
Total liabilities   32,848
Total assets   $802,343


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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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