Helen Keller International does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 12 (Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses)
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, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.
HKI does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2020, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:
- Only included one program service category. It did not include a detailed breakdown of expenses for each of its major program activities (distribution of medicines, international eye health, neglected tropical diseases, nutrition, and U.S. vision programs).
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.
hki does not meet this Standard because the organization’s website, https://hki.org, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:
- A summary of 2020 program service accomplishments.
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:
1
3
7
13
14
15
16
Helen Keller International meets the remaining 11 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Helen Keller International (HKI) actively works to combat the following conditions linked to blindness, disease and death: malnutrition (including micronutrient malnutrition), cataract, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, refractive error and neglected tropical diseases including onchocerciasis (river blindness), trachoma, intestinal worms, schistomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis. HKI operates in three regions, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, encompassing approximately twenty-one countries. The organization works with ministries of health, nongovernmental agencies, and local health workers to provide expertise, training, technical assistance and other resources to establish evidence-based programs in health and eye care within the existing health care systems of host countries.
For the year ended June 30, 2020, Helen Keller International's program expenses were:
| Distribution of medicines and other (in-kind), primarily for blindness prevention |
$120,173,218 |
| Nutrition, including Vitamin A |
$42,089,860 |
| Neglected tropical diseases |
$13,282,357 |
| U.S. vision programs |
$2,390,301 |
| International eye health |
$1,841,714 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$179,777,450 |
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Chief Executive
Kathy Spahn, President and Chief Executive Officer
-
Compensation*
$417,797
-
Chair of the Board
William Toppeta
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
President, Macomber Peak Partners
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Board Size
29
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Paid Staff Size
*2019 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
Fundraising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $199,633,684, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
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.
The following information is based on Helen Keller International's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended June 30, 2020.
| Source of Funds |
| In-kind contributions |
$120,173,218 |
| Corporations, foundations, and individuals |
$40,622,479 |
| Grants - U.S. Government agencies |
$34,603,293 |
| Grants - non U.S. Government agencies |
$3,700,138 |
| Program and other revenue |
$1,453,339 |
| Legacies and trusts |
$534,556 |
| Dividends and interest income |
$138,959 |
| Realized and unrealized gains on investments, net |
$92,178 |
| Total Income |
$201,318,160 |
- Programs: 94%
- Administrative: 5%
- Fundraising: Less than 1%
| Total Income |
$201,318,160 |
| Program expenses |
$179,777,450 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$2,021,419 |
| Administrative expenses |
$10,219,591 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$192,018,460 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$9,299,700 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$44,783,219 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$-11,823 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$54,071,096 |
| Total Liabilities |
$19,354,887 |
| Total Assets |
$73,425,983 |
Note 1: According to HKI's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2020, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $120,173,218 in the form of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and software licenses.
Note 2: In the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to a change in perpetual and restricted trusts.