Better Business Bureau Report for
League of Women Voters Information Service

Better Business Bureau Report issued October 2008
Better Business Bureau Report expires October 2010


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: League of Women Voters Information Service
Address: 8706 Manchester Road, Suite 104
  St. Louis , MO 63144
Phone: 314-961-6869
Web Address: www.lwvstl.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1989, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to build citizen participation in the democratic process, study key community issues at all governmental levels in an unbiased manner, and enable people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

League of Women Voters Information Service (LWVIS) does not meet the following 2 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.

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

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's online privacy policy does not include how the user can contact the charity to review or correct collected information, how the user can inform the charity that they do not want personal informtion shared outside the organization, and what security measures are in place to protect personal 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: 7.
League of Women Voters Information Service (LWVIS) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Voter Education and Information Services.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, LWVIS's program expenses were:

  
Voter Service 20,435
Publications 7,489
Membership 4,359
Total Program Expenses: $32,283
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Governance

              

Chief Executive :
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Doris Buzzell
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation:

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size: 1

*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 20% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $36,449, 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 LWVIS's unaudited financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Fundraising Events 14,958
Individuals 9,662
Education/Publications 8,179
Contributions 3,650
Tributes/Memorials 370
Interest 180
Total Income $36,999


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

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

Total income   $36,999
  Program expenses $32,283
  Fund raising expenses 7,158
  Administrative expenses 3,407
 
Total expenses   $42,848
Expenses in Excess of Income   (5,849)
Beginning net assets   51,058
Ending net assets   45,209
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $45,209


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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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