Better Business Bureau Report for
Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued September 2008
Better Business Bureau Report expires September 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: Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc.
Address: 2709 Wooson Road
  Overland, MO 63114
Phone: 314-863-0015
Web Address: http://www.caastlc.org/index.html
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1968, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to end poverty and help families who are caught in poverty. CAASTLC is committed to helping the communities of St. Louis County prevent the conditions of poverty for future generations. Its task is to provide individuals, families and local communities at or near the poverty level, or in crisis, with resources and support. This is accomplished by addressing, with dignity and respect, the requirements of the whole person, including emotional, physical, economic and educational needs. The primary service area is St. Louis County, Missouri.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. (CAASTLC) does not meet the following 4 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 has an official assessment policy, however, it does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every two years.  The organization has informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this Standard.  

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 informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this Standard. 

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 budget provided by the organization does not clearly identify the projected amounts to be spent on program service, fundraising, administrative activities.  The organization has informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this Standard. 

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.  The organization has informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this Standard.   

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. (CAASTLC) meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. (“CAASTLC”) is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation that is part of a national network of federally funded Community Action Agencies. Its major programs and activities include Case Management, Counseling, Emergency Services, Employment Assistance, Energy Services, Food Assistance, Literacy Services, Housing Assistance, Weatherization Assistance, and Youth-At-Risk Programs. Services are provided to 22,000 low-income people in St. Louis County annually.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, CAASTLC's program expenses were:

  
Energy Assistance 5,523,173
Weatherization 1,325,921
Community Services 1,136,415
Housing/Rental Assistance 77,606
Other Programs 17,413
Total Program Expenses: $8,080,528
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Merline Anderson, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $88,251

Chair of the Board: Sharon Pace
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Public Sector - Alderperson

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 38

*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 $8,556,032, 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 CAASTLC's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Grants 8,549,362
Other 119,979
Investment 53,044
Rental 29,020
Donations 6,670
Total Income $8,758,075


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 95%  Fund Raising: Less than 1%  Administrative: 5% 

Total income   $8,758,075
  Program expenses $8,080,528
  Fund raising expenses 41,803
  Administrative expenses 399,666
 
Total expenses   $8,521,997
Income in Excess of Expenses   236,078
Beginning net assets   1,249,385
Ending net assets   1,485,463
Total liabilities   879,999
Total assets   $2,365,462


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