Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.

Stated Purpose

Providing help, creating hope, serving all. Catholic Charities carries out the social mission of the Catholic Church in Northwest Florida by serving and advocating for vulnerable families and individuals of any race, religion or national origin.

Evaluation Conclusions

This organization has been evaluated according to the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.Donors must decide for themselves the relative importance of the standards in question.

The following Standard for Charity Accountability was either not in effect or did not apply to this charity at the time of the evaluation.

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc. meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Programs

In keeping with the Mission Statement, the following program services may be provided through the various regional offices (Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach, Panama City & Tallahassee): adoption/pregnancy counseling, refugee/immigration services, family and individual counseling, emergency assistance, shelter and a thrift store.

Governance

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.

Financial

According to Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.'s 2009 IRS Form 990 and 2010 Audited Financial Statements for the year ended June 30, 2010:

* Excess for the year indicates the portion of income remaining after expenses.

Additional Contact Information

Industry Tips

Charitable Giving Tips

Ten Tips for Better Giving

Most charities are honest and ethical, but questionable solicitors are counting on the fact that you won't bother to check out the charity before you give. Here is some basic wise giving advise:

1. Watch out for similar names. As there are many charities raising funds for similar causes, some charity names sound the same. Be sure to look at the name carefully, because the charity soliciting you may not be the one you have in mind.

2. Do not be pressured to make an immediate gift. Be wary of solicitors that demand an "on the spot donation." Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it.

3. Question vague appeals. Appeals should clearly identify the charity's programs. Watch out for appeals that are strong on identifying a problem, but weak on describing what specifically the charity intends to do about it.

4. Do not give out personal information to phone solicitors. Don't give out credit card numbers, checking account numbers or any other personal information to unknown telephone solicitors.

5. Do not give cash. Write out a check to the charity's full official name, not to an individual or third party that may be collecting the donation.

6. Keep record of your donations (receipts, canceled checks and bank statements) so you can document your charitable giving at tax time. (Note: The IRS requires donations of $250 or more to be substantiated through a written receipt from the charity.)

7. If you want a deduction, make sure the organization is a charity. There are many different types of soliciting nonprofit organizations. Most appeals will indicate if the organization is eligible to receive gifts deductible as charitable donations. (To be sure, review the list of organizations in IRS Publication 78 or ask the charity for a copy of its tax exempt status determination letter.)

8. Don't hesitate to ask the charity for written information on its programs and finances. This tip can be particularly helpful in responding to phone appeals from charities that interest you.

9. To verify if a charity is registered to solicit, contact your state government. In most cases, this will be the state's office of the attorney general. Remember that state registration does not mean "approval, " it means the group has filed the appropriate forms.

10. Report bad practices. Contact your Better Business Bureau and your state's Attorney General office about solicitation problems.

Allowing a Charity to Use Your Name
Contributing with Confidence
Guidelines for Business Giving
Tips on Contributing Used Cars to Charity
Tips on Volunteering

ID: 90002798
Report as of February 9, 2012 00:44
Copyright^© 2012 Better Business Bureau

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. Donors must decide for themselves the significance of any variation from BBB Standards, taking into account the relative importance of the practice in question in the context of the organization's total performance.

This report reflects the results of an evaluation of informational materials provided voluntarily by the organization. The report is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgement.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.