Charity Report

  • Issued: January 2022
  • Expires: January 2024

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana

Standards Not Met

  • 8
  • 16
  • 17

812-334-2828

501 N Walnut St
Bloomington, IN 47404

https://www.bigsindiana.org

812-334-2828

501 N Walnut St
Bloomington, IN 47404

https://www.bigsindiana.org

Standards Not Met

<p><span>This organization does not meet one or more of the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Click the conclusions section below for more information.</span></p>

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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

  1. Program Expenses

    Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8

    Description
    Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

    Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet this standard because:Its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 indicate that the organization spent $254,640 or 61.32% of its total expenses, $415,290, on program service activities.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

    The organization meets this standard.

Fundraising & Info

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

    Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet this standard because:The financial review in its 2020 annual report does not provide the organization's total revenue; total expenses; program, fundraising and administrative expense totals; or ending net assets.

  3. 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.

    Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet this standard because:Its website, bigsindiana.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include a link to the organization's most recent IRS Form 990.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 8: Program Service Expense Ratio - Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet this standard because:Its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 indicate that the organization spent $254,640 or 61.32% of its total expenses, $415,290, on program service activities.

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, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet this standard because:The financial review in its 2020 annual report does not provide the organization's total revenue; total expenses; program, fundraising and administrative expense totals; or ending net assets.

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.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana does not meet this standard because:Its website, bigsindiana.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include a link to the organization's most recent IRS Form 990.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Purpose

  • Year, State Incorporated

    1973, IN

  • Stated Purpose

    At Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana we have a simple and clear mission to create and support one to one mentoring relationships to ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is for all youth to achieve their full potential.


  • Also Known As:

    Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Monroe County Inc, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Programs

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana seeks to ignite the power and promise of youth throughout their communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18 in communities all across the South Central Indiana area. Their mentors work with children in the community, in their schools, at after-school clubs, and many places in between. The average match length is almost three years, which is well above the national average. After Littles are involved in their program, 99% show reduced risky behavior, 90% feel more confident in themselves, 88% maintained or improved grades, and 100% of their Senior littles graduated from high school or received their GED's in the past three years.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana program expenses were:

Programs $254,640
Program Expenses $254,640

Governance & Staff

  • CEO

    Ms. Danell Witmer, Executive Director

  • Compensation*

    ¤0.00

  • Board Chair

    Ms. Laine Mello

  • Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

    Catalent Pharma Solutions - Bloomington

  • Board Size

    10

  • Paid Staff Size

    7

Fundraising

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Grant proposals, Door-to-door appeals, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).

% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 13.15%

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 Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana's Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020

Source of Funds
Direct contributions $314,868
Special events $87,437
Indirect contributions $49,092
Forgiveness of PPP loan $47,000
Governmental support $26,311
In-kind contributions $24,664
Investment income, net $7,585
Total Income $556,957

Breakdown of Expenses

Total Income $556,957
Total Expenses: $415,290
Program Expenses $254,640
Fundraising Expenses $72,223
Administrative Expenses $88,427
Other Expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $141,667
Beginning Net Assets $184,455
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $326,122
Total Liabilities $187,077
Total Assets $513,199

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.

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