Better Business Bureau Report for
Old North St Louis Restoration Group

Better Business Bureau Report issued March 2008
Better Business Bureau Report expires March 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: Old North St Louis Restoration Group
Address: 2800 N 14th St
  St Louis, MO 63107-3901
Phone: 314-241-5031
Web Address: www.onsl.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1981, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The Old North St Louis Restoration Group is a non-profit neighborhood association committed to restoring and developing the physical and social dimensions of the community in a manner that respects its historic, cultural and urban character.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Old North St Louis Restoration Group (ONSLRG) does not meet the following 7 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

The organization does not meet the meeting frequency provision of this Standard for meetings held in the past fiscal year.

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 meet this Standard because its effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every two years.

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 meet this Standard because it did not produce a written report outlining the results of the effectiveness assessment.

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 does not meet this standard because its budget does not include 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.

The organization does not meet this Standard because it states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

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 its annual report information or a link to its most recent IRS Form 990 on the site. 

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. 

Old North St Louis Restoration Group (ONSLRG) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Real estate activities center around three projects. North Market Place Homes: They are in the middle of Phase I of a project to build 100 new infill historically sensitive single family homes on vacant land in the neighborhood. The organization has built 13 homes and has lot reservations and contracts to build seven more. 20% of these homes are at an affordable rate and 80% are at market rate. North Market Place Apartments: Rehabbed 9 vacant deteriorated historic buildings in 2006 which resulted in 32 rental units at affordable rates based on median income 14th St Mall: This is a small commercial two-block district which has been virtually abandoned and shuttered for 20 years. Renovation of 27 historic buildings is in progress and will result in 80 residential units and 32,000 sq ft of retail space in the heart of the neighborhood. Green Space: ONSLRG maintains 16 vacant lots in its neighborhood as green space, at least half of those lots are community gardens that neighbors take responsibility for. These lots are kept mowed and trimmed and regularly get new plantings. House Tour: ONSLRG sponsors an annual house tour to showcase the beautiful historic homes in the neighborhood which has been a federal historic district since 1981, The 2006 house tour brought over 400 people in to observe the dramatic transformation of vacant shells into homes. Social Outreach: ONSLRG has four community wide meetings per year and puts out a newsletter six times a year. It also regularly has Quality of Life meetings with representatives from the police department. ONSLRG celebrates National Night Out with a big barbecue and hosts outdoor movie nights on Friday nights during the summer.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, ONSLRG's program expenses were:

  
Acquisition and Revitalization 378,257
Total Program Expenses: $378,257
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Sean P Thomas, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$60,000

Chair of the Board: John Burse
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Partner, Mackey Mitchell Associates

Board Size: 15

Paid Staff Size: 3

*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, internet, cause-related marketing, membership
Fund raising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $829,839, 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 ONSLRG's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

Source of Funds  
Grant Income 767,796
Fundraising 62,043
Program income 35,678
Gain on sale of investment 14,714
Reversal of RHCDA accrual 7,957
Interest income 2,398
Miscellaneous 76
Total Income $890,662


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 79%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 19% 

Total income   $890,662
  Program expenses $378,257
  Fund raising expenses 11,973
  Administrative expenses 90,986
 
Total expenses   $481,216
Income in Excess of Expenses   409,446
Beginning net assets   133,172
Ending net assets   542,618
Total liabilities   1,314,646
Total assets   $1,857,264


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