Better Business Bureau Report for
Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued May 2009
Better Business Bureau Report expires May 2011


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: Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, Inc.
Address: 550 Landmarks Blvd.
P.O. Box 250
  Alton, IL 62002
Phone: 618-463-5946
618-463-5950
Web Address: www.riverbendfamilies.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1949, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to enable children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, Inc. (RHSFS) does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

The organization's board of directors does not annually receive the organization's IRS Form 990.  In addition, the organization does not review the performance of the CEO at least every two years.   

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.

The organization does not have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness. 

Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

The organization does not have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness. 

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's annual report does not include a fund balance. 

Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures - Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

The organization solicits donations via its website, however, it does not have a link to its most recent IRS Form 990. 

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.

The organization does not have an online privacy policy. 

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, Inc. (RHSFS) meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Head Start provides prenatal services, health services, comprehensive early childhood education, social services and parent training to low income families with children from birth to age 5. Services are provided in over 11 different communities in Madison County. Family Foundations provides comprehensive early childhood education and social services to families with children birth to age three who are at risk of school failure. Through cooperation of area school districts services are provided for six school districts in Madison County. Transitions Counseling provides mental health counseling on all issues to couples, families, young children and adolescents coping with trauma, violence, abuse, eating disorders, parent/child conflicts, depression, and divorce.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, RHSFS's program expenses were:

  
Head Start 8,898,389
Total Program Expenses: $8,898,389
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Chuck Parr, President
Compensation*:
$119,543

Chair of the Board: Rich Watson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Bank of Edwardsville

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size: 165

*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, print advertisements, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,824,200, 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 RHSFS's audited financial statements for the year ended December, 31 2007.

Source of Funds  
Fees and Grants 8,186,054
In Kind (Matching) Funds 1,646,176
Program Service Fees 180,328
Contributions 98,524
United Way Allocations 79,500
Investment Income 37,970
Total Income $10,228,552


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 87%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 12% 

Total income   $10,228,552
  Program expenses $8,898,389
  Fund raising expenses 66,976
  Administrative expenses 1,251,072
 
Total expenses   $10,216,437
Income in Excess of Expenses   12,115
Beginning net assets   781,415
Ending net assets   793,530
Total liabilities   562,599
Total assets   $1,356,129


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