Better Business Bureau Report for
Hellenic Spirit Foundation

Better Business Bureau Report issued November 2006
Better Business Bureau Report expires November 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: Hellenic Spirit Foundation
Address: 4400 Woodson Road
  St. Louis, MO 63134
Phone: 314-447-0290
Web Address:
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1991, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: For charitable and educational purposes through the recognition of individuals and organizations who contribute to achieve humanitarian excellence. Raising of funds for promotion of Hellenic and other charitable activities.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Hellenic Spirit Foundation does not meet the following 9 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 does not have a board approved  budget and a conflict of interest policy. 

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's board of directors does not have an official policy that the organization's performance and effectiveness will be assessed 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 has not completed a performance assessment, and does not have one planned to take place in the next two years.

Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

The organization claims no fundraising expenses, however, it notes in information it sent to the BBB that it took part in various fundraising activities. 

Standard 11: Financial Statements - Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $250,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $100,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

The organization states it does not have financial statements that were reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA). [A review is an accounting service providing some assurance to interested parties as to the reliability of financial data without the CPA conducting an examination in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).]

Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

The organization states it does not have financial statements that were reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA).

Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

The organization claims no fundraising expenses, however, it notes in information it sent to the BBB that it took part in various fundraising activities. 

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 states that it does not have a budget for the current fiscal year.

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 states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

Hellenic Spirit Foundation meets the remaining 11 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Annual sponsporship of golf tournament, annual sponsorship of youth cultural camp and promotion of Hellenic cultural music.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, Hellenic Spirit Foundation's program expenses were:

  
Raising Funds for Promotion of Hellenic and Other Charitable Activities 98,895
Total Program Expenses: $98,895
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : none, none
Compensation*:
$

Chair of the Board: Bill Togias
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired

Board Size: 5

Paid Staff Size: 0

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:


Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $10,033, 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 Hellenic Spirit Foundation's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

Source of Funds  
Program service revenue 90,762
Direct public support 10,033
Membership dues 3,800
Equity investment -2,244
Total Income $102,351


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 100%    Administrative: 0 

Total income   $102,351
  Program expenses $98,895
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses
 
Total expenses   $98,895
Income in Excess of Expenses   3,456
Beginning net assets   36,255
Ending net assets   39,711
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $39,711


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