Better Business Bureau Report for
American Parkinson's Disease Association of Greater St. Louis

Better Business Bureau Report issued November 2008
Better Business Bureau Report expires November 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: American Parkinson's Disease Association of Greater St. Louis
Address: Campus Box 8111
660 S. Euclid Avenue
  St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: 314-362-3299
Web Address: www.stlapda.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1961, New York
Affiliates: American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.-National Office
Stated Purpose: exists to enhance the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease, their families, and caregivers in the Greater St. Louis area, and to provide funding for ongoing Parkinson's disease research.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

American Parkinson's Disease Association of Greater St. Louis (APDASTL) does not meet the following 5 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 meet this Standard because the board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

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 does not meet this Standard because the review of its financial statements was not in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).   

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 did not send the BBB a copy of its annual report. 

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.

This organization solicits donations via its website; however, it does not have its annual report information 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.

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 effectiveness measures and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2Standards for Charity Accountability: 7 and 14.
American Parkinson's Disease Association of Greater St. Louis (APDASTL) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Provide respite care (up to 15 hours per month per individal); provide adult day care scholarship of up to $75 per individual applicant in need; provide emergency alerting system (Lifeline). Sponsor monthly support groups, weekly exercise classes, write and distribute quarterly newsletters, facilitate educational symposia (2-4 yearly), and provide annual training sessions for support group leaders and exercise class facilitators.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, APDASTL's program expenses were:

  
Patient Services 211,424
Total Program Expenses: $211,424
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Debbie Guyer , Coordinator
Compensation*:

Chair of the Board: Matt LaMartina, Board President
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch

Board Size: 30

Paid Staff Size: 2

*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, grant proposals, internet, cause-related marketing
Fund raising costs were 14% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $260,232, 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 APDASTL's unaudited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Restricted Cash Receipts 191,508
Unrestricted Cash Receipts 68,724
Investment Income 49,037
Total Income $309,269


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 72%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 15% 

Total income   $309,269
  Program expenses $211,424
  Fund raising expenses 37,700
  Administrative expenses 45,134
 
Total expenses   $294,258
Income in Excess of Expenses   15,011
Beginning net assets   1,188,695
Ending net assets   1,203,706
Total liabilities  
Total assets   $1,203,706


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NOTE

              

This organization's financial review is being accepted as meeting Standard 11 in lieu of a full audit. 

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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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