Better Business Bureau Report for
Veterans for Peace

Better Business Bureau Report issued November 2006
Better Business Bureau Report expires November 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: Veterans for Peace
Address: 216 South Meramec Avenue
  St. Louis , MO 63105
Phone: 314-725-6005
314-725-7103
Web Address: www.veteransforpeace.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1985, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: exists to end the use of war to solve conflicts.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Veterans for Peace (VFP) does not meet the following 9 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.

This organization's board of directors does not annually receive its IRS Form 990 and this organization does not have a conflict of interest policy. 

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 organization does not have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness. 

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.

This organization does not have a board policy on assessing organizational performance and effectiveness. 

Standard 9: Fund Raising Expense Ratio - Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

This organization claims that it has no fundraising expenses, however, it solicits donations through direct mail and grant proposals. 

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.

This organization claims that it has no fundraising expenses, however, it solicits donations through direct mail and grant proposals. 

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.

This organization's budget did not show projected program, fundraising, and adminstrative 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.

This organization does not produce an annual report. 

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.

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. 

In addition, the St. Louis Better Business Bureau requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 3Standards for Charity Accountability: 3, 4, and 11.
Veterans for Peace (VFP) meets the remaining 8 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Peace Projects- Viet Nam Friendship Village, Iraq Water Project, Zones of Concern, Iraq Vets Against War, etc.

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

  
Other Associated Program Expenses 241,115
Peace Projects 174,338
Total Program Expenses: $415,453
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Michael McPhearson, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$24,769

Chair of the Board: David Cline
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation:

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 8

*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, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were % of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $103,142, 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 VFP's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

Source of Funds  
Program service revenue 164,211
Membership dues and assessments 125,236
Direct public support 103,142
Sales of inventory 25,267
Other revenue 5,940
Interest on savings and temporary cash investments 266
Special events (net) -8,609
Total Income $415,453


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 96%    Administrative: 4% 

Total income   $415,453
  Program expenses $415,453
  Fund raising expenses
  Administrative expenses 19,259
 
Total expenses   $433,904
Expenses in Excess of Income   (18,451)
Beginning net assets   70,221
Ending net assets   44,465
Total liabilities   35,812
Total assets   $80,277


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