City Mission does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:
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.
City Mission does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization?s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
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.
City Mission does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
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.
City Mission does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2021 budget information, it indicated that the budget did not identify total projected:
- program service expenses.
- fund raising expenses.
- administrative 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.
City Mission does not meet this Standard because the 2019 annual report did not include:
- Total program expenses.
- Total fundraising expenses.
- Total administrative expenses.
- Total end of year net assets.
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.
City Mission does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://www.thecitymission.org/, does not indicate:
- What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
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:
13
City Mission meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
The City Mission aims to serve as a haven for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness and instability in Cleveland. Its programs at Laura's Home Women's Crisis Center and Crossroads Men's Crisis Center aim to meet basic needs in the form of shelter, clothing and food as well as provide tools for hope and resilience. The organization reports empowering men, women, and children in crisis to overcome their unique, complex paths to homelessness; and creating individualized, comprehensive programs to assist clients in building their stabilized and independent future.
For the year ended September 30, 2020, City Mission's program expenses were:
| Laura's Home |
$3,781,551 |
| Crossroads Men's Ministry |
$3,303,168 |
| New Horizons |
$430,150 |
| TCMSF |
$5,611 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$7,520,480 |
*2020 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Note: City Mission is not required to file an IRS form 990 and CEO compensation information was not provided by the organization.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Telephone appeals
City Mission incurred joint costs of $1,552,687 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $1,242,162 was allocated to program expenses and $310,525 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $12,694,592, 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 City Mission's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended September 30, 2020.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$8,120,267 |
| Capital campaign, net |
$3,285,402 |
| Contributions-donated marketable securities |
$772,407 |
| Contributions-donated materials and services |
$467,874 |
| Other income |
$138,898 |
| MRA revenue, net |
$111,742 |
| Special events |
$48,642 |
| Gain on investments |
$1,417 |
| Total Income |
$12,946,649 |
- Programs: 87%
- Fundraising: 9%
- Administrative: 4%
| Total Income |
$12,946,649 |
| Program expenses |
$7,520,480 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$755,801 |
| Administrative expenses |
$427,456 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$8,703,737 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$4,242,912 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$12,062,012 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$16,307,924 |
| Total Liabilities |
$1,368,853 |
| Total Assets |
$17,676,777 |
Note: As reported by City Mission’s audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, the organization received in-kind contributions of $467,874 including donated materials ($447,787) and professional services ($20,087).