Sickle Cell Disease Association of Florida does not meet the following 7 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 3 (Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings)
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.
SCDA Florida does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors held one meeting in 2017.
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.
SCDA Florida 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.
SCDA Florida does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization did not produce a written report outlining the results of its February 2017 effectiveness assessment.
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.
SCDA Florida does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2018 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected fund raising 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.
SCDA Florida does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization did not submit a 2016 annual report to the BBB Wise Giving Alliance upon request.
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.
SCDA Florida does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, http://scdaflorida.com/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:
- A summary of its 2016 program service accomplishments.
- Total income.
- Total program expenses.
- Total fund raising expenses.
- Total administrative expenses.
- End of year net assets.
- Electronic access to the organization’s 2016 IRS Form 990.
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.
SCDA Florida does not meet this Standard because:
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
13
15
Sickle Cell Disease Association of Florida meets the remaining 10 Standards for Charity Accountability.
SCDA Florida reports that it works to educate the local community about sickle cell disease. The organization states that it provides counseling, screening, support services, referrals, and community outreach to families affected by sickle cell disease.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Florida's program expenses were:
| Education and counseling programs |
$302,736 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$302,736 |
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Internet
Fundraising costs were 0% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $18,000, 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 Sickle Cell Disease Association of Florida's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.
| Source of Funds |
| Contract services |
$326,190 |
| Other income |
$34,587 |
| Contributions |
$18,000 |
| Total Income |
$378,777 |
- Programs: 78%
- Administrative: 22%
| Total Income |
$378,777 |
| Program expenses |
$302,736 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$0 |
| Administrative expenses |
$86,928 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$389,664 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$-10,887 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$62,167 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$-954 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$50,326 |
| Total Liabilities |
$1,078 |
| Total Assets |
$51,404 |
Note 1: As noted in the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to prior period adjustments.
Note 2: Since the Alliance disagrees with SCDA Florida's allocation of fundraising expenses and we did not receive clarification from the charity, we are unable to verify the ratio of fundraising expenses to related contributions. See the Conclusions section of this report for more information.