Better Business Bureau Report for
Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County

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


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County
Address: 130 Trade Center Drive W.
  St. Peters, MO 63376
Phone: 636-978-5712
Web Address: habitatstcharles.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1997, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God’s love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County (HFHSCC) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County is an independent local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, governed by a volunteer board of directors from St. Charles County. It is a non-profit ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to constructing decent, affordable homes in St. Charles County in partnership with hard-working, low-income families. By requiring the payment of a 30 year interest-free mortgage and 350 “sweat equity hours”, Habitat for Humanity offers families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out”. The local Habitat affiliate was formed to address the need of affordable housing with leadership from Rotary clubs of St. Charles County. In 1997, 25 founding co-sponsors contributed $2,500 each to building the first house in St. Charles. They included churches, banks, retail stores, and community businesspersons from the construction trade, insurance industry, auto manufacturing and medical fields. Since completion and dedication of the first house in May 1997, HFHSCC has added numerous donor partners and hundreds of individual donors who not only contribute funds, but also volunteer their time to see the organization flourish. Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County is committed to creating homeownership opportunities for working families. Since its inception in 1997, Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County has built 38 homes in Wentzville, O’Fallon, St. Charles and Portage De Sioux. These homes were built in partnership with qualifying St. Charles County families of diverse backgrounds. Habitat families work in local manufacturing, retail, health and other service industries, earning between 25% - 50% of the median income in St. Charles County. Habitat for Humanity utilizes the financial and human resources of area churches, businesses, foundations, individuals, civic organizations and qualified, low-income families to advance the mission of homeownership.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, HFHSCC's program expenses were:

  
ReStore 101,790
Construction 80,336
Homeowners 16,901
Total Program Expenses: $199,027
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Ashlee Johnson, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $53,045

Chair of the Board: Joeseph Crenshaw
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, New Frontier Bank

Board Size: 20

Paid Staff Size: 7

*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, radio, grant proposals, internet, planned giving arrangements, membership
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $500,057, 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 HFHSCC's audited financial statements for the year ended June, 30 2008.

Source of Funds  
Grants 156,958
In-Kind Donations 142,100
Contributions 96,706
Interest Income - Mortgages Recievable 64,992
ReStore Sales 58,842
Fundraising Events 45,451
Miscellaneous Income 21,300
Gain on sale of fixed assests 17,260
Interest Income 5,030
Total Income $608,639


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 58%  Fund Raising: 6%  Administrative: 36% 

Total income   $608,639
  Program expenses $199,027
  Fund raising expenses 19,219
  Administrative expenses 125,274
 
Total expenses   $343,520
Income in Excess of Expenses   265,119
Beginning net assets   1,037,678
Other Changes in Net Assets 34,447
Ending net assets   1,302,797
Total liabilities   73,823
Total assets   $1,376,620


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NOTES

              

While the statistics above show program expenses to be under the BBB required 65% of total expenses, the BBB has considered this organization's extenuating circumstances and has passed them on this Standard.  The following is an explanation from the organization. 

In FY 08, Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County was in the process of getting the Habitat ReStore established.  The ReStore, is a program of Habitat’s, it is a home improvement resale shop.  The funds from the ReStore go directly to Habitat to build more homes, it provides a service to our community by offering discounted home improvement items that are tax free and it also diverts tons of waste from local landfills.  In FY 08, Habitat was working on the build out for the ReStore and getting it ready to open to the public. 

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