Better Business Bureau Report for
Hope Happens, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued June 2010
Better Business Bureau Report expires June 2012


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: Hope Happens, Inc.
Address: 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1320
  St. Louis, MO 63105
Phone: 314-725-3888
Web Address: www.hopehappens.org
Also known as:Hope Happens for Neurological Disorders
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Formerly known as:ALS Hope--the James Maritz/Chris Hobler Foundation

Year, State Incorporated: 2005, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to improve the lives of people with neurodegenerative disorders by promoting collaborative, translational reserch that has the potential to fast-track cures.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Hope Happens, Inc. (HH) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

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 did not have its financial statements audited.   
Hope Happens, Inc. (HH) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

To fast-track the search for cures by promoting a new model of doing research designed to fund innovative disease-focused research without the years-long delay typical for other sources of grant funds. Provide an infrastructure that promotes collaboration across disciplines and institutions. Provide state-of-the-art core resources and technical expertise so that basic scientific discoveries can be rapidly tested and translated into cures. Train the next generation of scientists and speed the dissemination of information about neurological disorders through the reserach community.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, HH's program expenses were:

  
Contributions to Hope Center for Neurological Disorder 396,001
Other Programs 33,444
Total Program Expenses: $429,445
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Sandy Kaplan, Director of Development
Compensation*:
 $75,000

Chair of the Board: Jeff Hercules
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Renaissance Financial

Board Size: 17

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, telephone, invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $715,819, 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 HH's unaudited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 591,366
Event 124,453
Investment 557
Other 254
Total Income $716,630


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 71%  Fund Raising: 19%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $716,630
  Program expenses $429,445
  Fund raising expenses 117,394
  Administrative expenses 60,320
 
Total expenses   $607,159
Income in Excess of Expenses   109,471
Beginning net assets   322,451
Ending net assets   431,922
Total liabilities   2,307
Total assets   $434,229


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