Better Business Bureau Report for
Oasis International Ministries

Better Business Bureau Report issued June 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires June 2013


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: Oasis International Ministries
Address: 5035 Gravois Ave.
  St. Louis, MO 63116
Phone: 314-353-3800
Web Address: www.oasisinternational.info
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2002, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "exists for charitible, religious, and educational purposes specifically to provide means for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every tongue, people and nation, through establishing and maintaining mission mobilization ministries which may include mission-minded churches and/or training centers."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Oasis International Ministries does not meet the following 10 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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.
  • Have an approved conflict of interest policy.
  • Receive a copy of the organization’s financial statements.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors did not hold a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings in the past fiscal year.

Standard 4: Compensated Board Members - Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because:

  • TWO (2) member(s) out of the SEVEN (7) member board of directors (29%) is/are compensated either directly or indirectly.
  • The paid chief executive officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.
  • The chair of the board is compensated either directly or indirectly.

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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although it produced a written effectiveness assessment report, it was not submitted for approval to the board of directors.

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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because:

  • It states it does not have financial statements that were reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA). A review is an accounting service providing some assurance to interested parties as to the reliability of financial data without the CPA conducting an examination in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).

Standard 13: Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements - Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because its IRS Form 990-EZ for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009:

  • Reports the organization had no fund raising expenses.
  • Reports the organization had no administrative expenses.

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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative 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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

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.

Oasis International Ministries does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, www.oasisinternational.info, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors.
  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.
  • Electronic access to the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990.
Oasis International Ministries meets the remaining 10 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Oasis is helping refugees from war torn countries who have relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. When the refugees come to St. Louis they must find a job, set up transportation, and learn English, in addition to, learning the customs and laws of the U.S. Oasis helps these families with these things as well as practical ways with furniture, clothes and classes to help them with English, computers, sewing and to learn skills to gain employment. Most importantly to simply be their friend. The organization is trying to change the statistic that less than 10% of the refugees coming to St. Louis will ever be befriended by an American, much less the Christian Church."

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, Oasis International Ministries's program expenses were:

  
Programs 201,424
Total Program Expenses: $201,424
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Mark S. Akers, President
Compensation*:
$71,648

Chair of the Board: Mark S. Akers
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Minister

Board Size: 7

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:

invitations to fund raising events, internet, cause-related marketing, Newsletters
Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $208,181, 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 Oasis International Ministries's IRS Form 990-EZ for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contribution, grants, gifts 208,181
Total Income $208,181


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 100%    Administrative: 0 

Total income   $208,181
  Program expenses $201,424
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses
 
Total expenses   $201,424
Income in Excess of Expenses   6,757
Beginning net assets   126,420
Ending net assets   116,200
Total liabilities   227,170
Total assets   $343,370


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