Better Business Bureau Report for
Voices for Children

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: Voices for Children
Address: 920 North Vandeventer
  St. Louis , MO 63108
Phone: 314-552-2352
314-533-2617
Web Address: www.voicesforchildrenstl.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1998, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to speak in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Voices for Children (VFC) does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability.

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.

This organization does not have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness but has informed the BBB that it is working on one. 

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.

This organization does not have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness but has informed the BBB that it is working on one. 

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.

This organization's budget does not show projected program and fundraising expenses but has informed the BBB that it is working on one that includes this information. 

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's annual report does not include a board roster, breakdown of income and expenses, and a fund balance but has informed the BBB that it is working on one that include this information. 

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.

This organization solicits donations via its website; however, it does not have its annual report information or a link to its most recent IRS Form 990.  The organization has informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this standard. 

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.  The organization has informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this standard. 

Voices for Children (VFC) meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Provides trained community volunteers to act as guardians ad litem for abused or neglected children and also act as advocates for the children's best interests.

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

  
Trained Community Volunteers 967,828
Total Program Expenses: $967,828
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Stephen Knapp , Executive Director
Compensation*:
$29,356

Highest Paid Executive: Mary Z. Taylor ,Legal Director
Compensation*: $79,674

Chair of the Board: Neil Miller
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney, Summers, Compton, Wells & Hamburg

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 19

*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, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,312,151, 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 VFC's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.

Source of Funds  
Grants 923,226
Contributions 313,116
In-kind donations 75,800
Interest income 5,915
Marketing income (net) 9
Total Income $1,318,066


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 85%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $1,318,066
  Program expenses $967,828
  Fund raising expenses 100,442
  Administrative expenses 67,625
 
Total expenses   $1,135,895
Income in Excess of Expenses   182,171
Beginning net assets   551,023
Ending net assets   733,194
Total liabilities   60,199
Total assets   $793,393


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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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