Bay Area Rescue Mission
Unable to Verify
Unable to Verify
Standards Legend
- Meets Standards
- Standards Not Met
- Did Not Disclose
- Review In Progress
- Unable to Verify
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1
Description
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, fundraising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Size
Number of Board Members: Standard 2
Description
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Meetings
Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Compensation
Compensated Board Members: Standard 4
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
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Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest: Standard 5
Description
No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.The organization meets this standard.
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
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Effectiveness Report
Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
Finances
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Program Expenses
Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8
Description
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.The organization meets this standard.
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Fundraising Expenses
Fundraising Expense Ratio: Standard 9
Description
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fundraising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fundraising efforts.The organization meets this standard.
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Accumulating Funds
Ending Net Assets: Standard 10
Description
Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.The organization meets this standard.
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Audit Report
Financial Statements: Standard 11
Description
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12
Description
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, fundraising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.The organization meets this standard.
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Accurate Expense Reporting
Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13
Description
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 fundraising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fundraising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Budget Plan
Budget: Standard 14
Description
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fundraising, and administration.
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
Misleading Appeals: Standard 15
Description
Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.The organization meets this standard.
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Annual Report
Annual Report: Standard 16
Description
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, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets. -
Website Disclosures
Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17
Description
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 meets this standard.
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Donor Privacy
Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18
Description
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 meets this standard.
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19
Description
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).The organization meets this standard.
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Complaints
Complaints: Standard 20
Description
Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fundraising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.The organization meets this standard.
Conclusion
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 14, 16
Bay Area Rescue Mission meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Purpose
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Year, State Incorporated
1965, CA
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Stated Purpose
Fighting homelessness. Changing lives.
Programs
Founded in1965, the Bay Area Rescue Mission ('BARM') exists to love its homeless andhungry neighbors without limits—all while valuing their dignity and intrinsicworth, regardless of their life circumstances. Despite 58years of concerted efforts, the problem remains staggering: Californiacontinues to host the largest percentage of the unsheltered homeless populationin the USA. (1) On any night in the Bay Area, 38,000 men, women, and childrenlive on the streets, where a third will experience physical or sexual violence. (2) Committed toits mission of "Fighting Homelessness and Changing Lives," BARM's programshave grown in response to the needs of those it serves. As the community'slargest privately funded provider of integrated services, BARM cares for thewhole person. Those who are houseless access daily meals, a food pantry,clothing, supplies, emergency and long-term shelter, transitional housing,mental health, drug and alcohol counseling, plus more. BARM refusesto surrender to the idea that homelessness is here to stay. With the help of 27local partners, it's committed to empowering the community to bend the curvewith specialized services for those with criminal histories and wraparoundservices, including job training, GED preparation, life skills training, andassistance with legal issues. Each year,our hungry neighbors receive more than 1,606,178 total meals, nearly 60,000nights of shelter, and over 80,000 hours of classes and counseling at BARM.From desperation to restoration, BARM's programs communicate their commitmentto providing practical, innovative, and effective services and solutions. EMERGENCYSERVICES Food Distribution Program Many in Contra Costa County struggled to survive in a good economy. Facing increasing unemployment rates and housing insecurity, 87,000 ofits residents navigate overwhelming odds to obtain basic needs such as food forthemselves and their families. (Feeding America)As the Bay Area struggles to address the continual economicimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands rely on BARM's hot meals and Food Distribution Warehouse to stretch their budgets and prioritizenecessities, such as medicine or rent.Providing over 1.6M meals in 2022, hungry neighbors can access adaily hot community meal at 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. Its FoodDistribution Warehouse is also open from Monday to Saturday with two foodtrucks delivering produce to those most in need. Serving as a distributionpoint for smaller food pantries, BARM’s Warehouse is committed to empowering like-mindedcommunity partners in the greater Contra Costa County.Emergency ShelterWhile California is on track to become the fourth-largesteconomy in the world, it also hosts half of the unsheltered homeless population in the United States. (Public Policy Institute of California) On any night,38,000 individuals in the Bay Area are homeless—families making up a shocking37.2%. (8 News) It's a crisis that 70% of San Francisco residents cite as amongthe top three problems in the city. (San Fransisco Chronicle)Offering a warm bed, protection from the elements, and refugefrom the dangers of street life, men, women, and children experiencinghomelessness took advantage of 60,000 total bed nights at BARM's emergencyshelters—a 340% increase from 2021. With an average stay of 69 nights, over1,000 men sought refuge at the Men's Shelter and program and another 550 womenand children at BARM's new state-of-the-art facility, the Bridge of Hope Center,and programs.One of the Bridge of Hope's residents, Nneka, found herselfbattling homelessness after her landlord evicted her from her apartment.Battling a drug addiction, she called everywhere. No one would take her—no onebut BARM."My biggest struggle before coming here was not just usingdrugs it was pride. I never wanted to accept anyone's help with anything. Whenwe walked through these doors in June 2022, they opened their arms to us [and]rained encouragement on us. They helped me overcome my addiction and regain myfocus. I thank God and all the donors of the Bay Area Rescue Mission. Theyopened their arms to me and believed in me—and that means a lot."LIFE TRANSFORMATIONPROGRAM Through itsextensive one-year wraparound program, BARM empowers men, women, and childrento develop self- onfidence and establish self-sufficiency. Offering over 80,000hours of classes and counseling in 2022, those experiencing homelessness canidentify and address the root causes of poverty, substance abuse, andhopelessness—breaking the cycle forever. BARM's LifeTransformation Program cares for the "whole person." For the body:food, shelter, warm showers, fresh clothes, and medical services. For thehands: job skills training in culinary arts, warehousing, administration,construction, janitorial services, and more. For the mind: computer training,GED classes and certification, financial literacy education, skills to breakdrug and alcohol dependency, and legal assistance. For the heart: parenting classes, anger management classes, spiritual guidance, counseling, and, mostimportantly, compassion. Program graduatesleave healed and restored, sober and clean, with access to transitional housingand employment.COMMUNITYOUTREACH Committed to cultivatinga healthy and thriving community, residents of Contra Costa County benefitted fromBARM’s Community Outreach program. Tens of thousands of neighbors receivedclothing, hygiene kits, blankets, and necessary household goods; school suppliesfor children; cookouts and block parties; and thousands of turkey dinners forthose struggling feed their families during the holidays.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, Bay Area Rescue Mission program expenses were:
| Programs | $9,112,142 |
| Program Expenses | $9,112,142 |
Governance & Staff
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CEO
Bram Begonia, President/CEO
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Compensation*
¤190,269.00
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Board Chair
Mr. Michael Lubcyik, Community Volunteer
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
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Board Size
9
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Paid Staff Size
43
Governance
* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.
Fundraising
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).
% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 21.57%
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
The following information is based on Bay Area Rescue Mission's Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021
| Source of Funds | |
|---|---|
| Contributions and Grants | $8,052,789 |
| Contributed Clothing and Goods | $6,081,995 |
| Special Events | $374,915 |
| Contributed Services | $65,491 |
| Social Enterprise | $42,930 |
| Other Revenue | $1,684 |
| Total Income | $14,619,804 |
Breakdown of Expenses
| Total Income | $14,619,804 |
| Total Expenses: | $11,805,691 |
| Program Expenses | $9,112,142 |
| Fundraising Expenses | $1,841,056 |
| Administrative Expenses | $852,493 |
| Other Expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $2,814,113 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $7,159,284 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $9,973,397 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,585,610 |
| Total Assets | $11,559,007 |
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau ® is a registered service mark of International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
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