Better Business Bureau Report for
OWL Older Women's League - Gateway Chapter

Better Business Bureau Report issued May 2006
Better Business Bureau Report expires May 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: OWL Older Women's League - Gateway Chapter
Address: 2165 Hampton Avenue
  St. Louis , MO 63139
Phone: 314-725-5862
314-645-3510
Web Address: www.owlstlouis.com
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1981, California
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to improve the policies that affect women , especially health care availability, social security and medicare, retirement security, and pay equity.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

OWL Older Women's League - Gateway Chapter (OWL ) does not meet the following 8 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.

This organization did not provide 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.

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

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.

This organization's financial statements are not reviewed by a certified public accountant. 

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.

This organization's financial statements do not include a detailed functional breakdown of expenses.   

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.

This organization's IRS Form 990 shows no fundraising expenses; however, the organization does hold special events fundraisers. 

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 include program and fundraising expenditures. 

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 fund balance. 

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. 

In addition, the St. Louis Better Business Bureau requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, finances, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3Standards for Charity Accountability: 3, 9, and 19.
OWL Older Women's League - Gateway Chapter (OWL ) meets the remaining 9 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Pension Project, Elder Abuse Victims counseling and support, and donations to support organizations.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, OWLOWL Older Women's League - Gateway Chapter's program expenses were:

  
Pension Project 148,320
Elder Abuse Victims 9,926
Donations to Support Organizations 598
Total Program Expenses: $158,844
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Suzanne Lagomarcino , Executive Director
Compensation*:
$28,387

Chair of the Board: Maryann Sexton
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Unknown

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size:

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

              

Method(s) Used:

invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals
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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 OWLOWL Older Women's League - Gateway Chapter's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

Source of Funds  
Program service revenue 149,107
Special events (net) 23,329
Direct public support 23,006
Government contributions 4,900
Membership dues and assessments 3,995
Other revenue 179
Interest on savings and temporary cash investments 129
Total Income $204,645


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 91%    Administrative: 9% 

Total income   $204,645
  Program expenses $158,844
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses 15,257
 
Total expenses   $177,760
Income in Excess of Expenses   26,885
Beginning net assets   56,114
Ending net assets   86,108
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $86,108


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