Better Business Bureau Report for
Pony Bird, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued January 2008
Better Business Bureau Report expires January 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: Pony Bird, Inc.
Address: #1 Pony Bird Lane
P.O. Box 190
  Mapaville, MO 63065
Phone: 636-931-5818
636-937-0202
Web Address: www.ponybird.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1977, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to provide residential, recreational, educational, and adult day programming services to those individuals who are nonambulatory with profound to severe physical disabilities as well as profound to severe mental disabilities. In providing these services, the organization serves the individual, the individual's families and the community. It does this by providing highly trained staff to deliver services with respect and dignity for human rights.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Pony Bird, Inc. (PB) does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

The organization's audited financial statements does not include a detailed functional breakdown of expenses for each major program. 

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 did not provide the BBB with complete budget information. 

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's annual report does not include a fund balance. 

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 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 onlie 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 solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2Standards for Charity Accountability: 3 and 15.
Pony Bird, Inc. (PB) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED Twenty-four hour personal care is provided by trained staff. Dietary management, health care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, recreation, and social events are provided to all the members of the Pony Bird Family. An RN/LPN is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Community outings and in house programs focus on social, emotional, spiritual enriching opportunities, as well as new skill development for continued growth. EDUCATIONAL & DAY PROGRAM Pony Bird operates a year-round school for school-age children with profound severe physical and mental disabilities. When the student turns twenty-one years of age, his/her needs continue to be met through Pony Bird’s Day Program. RESPITE Overnight and day respite are available to families in the Region Eleven community with a child or adult requiring specialized care. Due to the high demand for these services, it is important that families, when possible, schedule their respite in advance.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, PB's program expenses were:

  
Residential Habilitation 2,599,278
Day Habilitation 668,386
Room & Board 371,326
Respite Care 74,265
Total Program Expenses: $3,713,255
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Linda Dallas, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $78,375

Chair of the Board: Carol Shelley, President of Board of Directors
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Global Strategy & Marketing Administrator, The Solae Company

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 100

*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, print advertisements, television, radio, grant proposals, internet
Fund raising costs were 24% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $281,262, 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 PB's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Program service revenue 4,646,936
Contributions 281,262
Interest on savings and temporary cash investments 37,084
Other revenue 35,511
Dividends and interest from securities 3,792
Total Income $5,004,585


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 17% 

Total income   $5,004,585
  Program expenses $3,713,255
  Fund raising expenses 67,522
  Administrative expenses 794,446
 
Total expenses   $4,575,223
Income in Excess of Expenses   429,362
Beginning net assets   2,810,752
Ending net assets   3,242,034
Total liabilities   1,972,657
Total assets   $5,214,691


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