Better Business Bureau Report for
Let's Start

Better Business Bureau Report issued November 2010
Better Business Bureau Report expires November 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...


Find out more about this charity:

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Charity Contact Information

Name: Let's Start
Address: 1408 South 10th Street
  St. Louis , MO 63104
Phone: 314-241-2324
Web Address: www.letsstart.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1991, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "exists to help formerly incarcerated women break the cycle of incarceration in families by using the personal experiences of its participants to support recovery, educate the community, and inform policy."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Let's Start (LS) 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 $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

The organization's annual income is more than $250,000, however, it does not have an audit completed by a CPA.  The organization has informed the BBB that it is working to comply with this Standard by having an audit completed.   
Let's Start (LS) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Advocating alternative sentencing programs in the criminal justice system, helping formerly incarcerated women make the transition into mainstream society, and informing ex-prisoners, children, and caregivers of prisoners of programs, conducting weekly support groups, etc.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, LS's program expenses were:

  
Support process and education of formerly incarcerated women. 133,260
Total Program Expenses: $133,260
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Sr. Jackie Toben, Executive Director
Compensation*: 
 $18,000

Chair of the Board: Cory A. Elliott
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: SSM Health System

Board Size: 14

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
Fund raising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $266,089, 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 LS's IRS Form 990-EZ for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 233,515
Special Events 32,574
Investment Income 2,640
Other Revenue 38
Total Income $268,767


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

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

Total income $268,767
Program expenses $133,260
Fund raising expenses 18,769
Administrative expenses 35,661
Total expenses $187,690
Income in Excess of Expenses 81,077
Beginning net assets 220,367
Ending net assets 237,187
Total liabilities 20,201
Total assets $257,388


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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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