Better Business Bureau Report for
Voluntary Action Center

Better Business Bureau Report issued June 2006
Better Business Bureau Report expires June 2008


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: Voluntary Action Center
Address: 800 N. Providence, Suite 220
  Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573-449-6959
573-874-2273
Web Address: www,vacmo.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1969, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to serve as the agency of first and last resort: providing information and referral to the social services community and providing emergency assistance to families when local programs are unable to meet critical needs. To provide community-wide volunteer coordination engaging more people in volunteer service to solve serious social problems. To act as a catalyst in identifying and addressing emerging community needs.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Voluntary Action Center (VAC) 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.

This organziation has a board policy for assessing organizational performance and effectiveness, however, its last assessment took place in April of 2003. 

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.

This organization's annual report does not include a breakdown of expenses and 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.

This 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.

This organization does not have an online privacy policy. 

Voluntary Action Center (VAC) meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

VAC coordinates services and works to improve the level of cooperation of cooperation and awareness among providers and educate the public to the various social service programs available in the area. VAC provides emergency services when no other agency can do so. Services also include assistance with transportation, shelter, food, clothing, medication and other needs. VAC provides a community-wide volunteer coordination program that engages more individuals in volunteer service to help solve social issues. The agency assists those seeking volunteer work in locating positions which are satisfying and will make use of their talents and skills.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, VAC's program expenses were:

  
Special Projects 184,167
United Way Information and Referral Services 68,342
City Information and Referral Services 53,086
Volunteerism 29,291
Phoenix Bridge 27,559
Boone County Information and Referral Services 2,348
Total Program Expenses: $364,793
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Cindy Mustard, Executive Director
Compensation*: 
 $54,220

Chair of the Board: Susan Gowin
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Vice President of First National Bank

Board Size: 27

Paid Staff Size: 4

*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 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $155,087, 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 VAC's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

Source of Funds  
Restrictions satisfied by payments 162,920
Restrictions satisfied by time extension 103,400
City of Columbia and Boone County 64,500
Fundraising 30,595
Contributions 27,315
HUD/Phoenix Project Bridge 23,772
In-kind donations 8,108
Directory 797
Interest 603
Miscellaneous 363
Total Income $422,373


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 90%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income $422,373
Program expenses $364,793
Fund raising expenses 7,379
Administrative expenses 30,366
Total expenses $402,538
Income in Excess of Expenses 19,835
Beginning net assets 230,820
Ending net assets 267,782
Total liabilities 14,245
Total assets $282,027


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