Better Business Bureau Report for
Disciples Benevolent Services

Better Business Bureau Report issued February 2009
Better Business Bureau Report expires February 2011


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...


Find out more about this charity:

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Charity Contact Information

Name: Disciples Benevolent Services
Address: 149 Weldon Parkway, Suite 115
  Maryland Heights , MO 63043
Phone: 314-993-9000
Web Address: www.nbacares.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1887, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to establish partnerships with congregations, other agencies and entities to provide benevolent services based on a local community's specific needs. Possibilities include but are not limited to: HUD sponsored housing for older adults, assistance in refinancing units' HUD financed mortgages, developing programs for teens and young adults without a support system, or chaplaincy programs embedded in nursing homes, hospice facilities, and older adult facilities.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Disciples Benevolent Services (DBS) does not meet the following 7 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 review the chief executive's performance at least every two years. 

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 have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness. 

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 have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness. 

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's budget does not include projected total 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 did not send the BBB an 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.

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. 

In addition, the St. Louis Better Business Bureau requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 3.
Disciples Benevolent Services (DBS) meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Chaplaincy care, Christian Services for Children, ECHO, Florida Christian Center, Serra Center, and Woodhaven.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, DBS's program expenses were:

  
Programs 11,598,000
Total Program Expenses: $11,598,000
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Dennis Hagemann, President
Compensation*:
$106,575

Chair of the Board: Rev. Belva Brown Jordan
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Associate Dean for Admissions, Phillips Theological Seminary

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 306

*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, planned giving arrangements
Fund raising costs were 24% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,124,000, 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 DBS's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Fees for services 11,246,000
Contributions 3,124,000
Investment return 2,490,000
Other 662,000
Interest, dividends and rents 441,000
Gain on deferrred gift values 396,000
Total Income $18,359,000


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 69%  Fund Raising: 4%  Administrative: 27% 

Total income   $18,359,000
  Program expenses $11,598,000
  Fund raising expenses 762,000
  Administrative expenses 4,548,000
 
Total expenses   $16,908,000
Income in Excess of Expenses   1,451,000
Beginning net assets   66,857,000
Ending net assets   66,335,000
Total liabilities   14,339,000
Total assets   $80,674,000


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