Human Milk Banking Association of North America
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Human Milk Banking Association of North America does not meet the following 7 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.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least Every 2 Years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
Standard 9 (Fund Raising Expense Ratio)
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because:
- According to its 2024 IRS Form 990, the organization's fundraising costs were 212% ($31,688) of related contributions, which totaled $14,966.
Standard 11 (Financial Statements)
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.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because:
- although the organization indicates it completed audited financial statements for 2025, a copy was not provided upon request.
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.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2026 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
- Did not identify total projected fundraising 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.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2025.
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.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because the organization’s website, https://www.hmbana.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:
- The organization’s 2024 IRS Form 990.
- A summary of 2025 program service accomplishments.
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.
HMBANA does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://www.hmbana.org/, does not indicate:
- How to contact the organization to request updates of corrections to personal information.
- How to inform the organization that vistor does not want their information shared.
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: 3
Human Milk Banking Association of North America meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to educate the public about the practice of human milk banking and to provided members with a central source for human milk banking research and information."
Year, State Incorporated:
1990, CT
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) reports that it aims for all infants to have access to human milk through support of breastfeeding and use of pasteurized donor human milk. HMBANA states that it provides member accreditations for nonprofit milk banks in the United States and Canada. The organization also develops evidence-based best practices and sets international guidelines for pasteurized human milk, while advocating breastfeeding and human lactation education and ethically sourced and equitably distributed donor human milk.
For the year ended December 30, 2024, Human Milk Banking Association of North America's program expenses were:
| Program services | $375,638 |
| Total Program Expenses | $375,638 |
Chief Executive
Lindsay B. Groff, Executive Director
Compensation*
$164,099
Chair of the Board
Dr. Lisa Stellwagen
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Professor Emerita, University of California, San Diego
Board Size
13
Paid Staff Size
5
*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Internet, Membership appeals
Fundraising costs were 212% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $14,966, 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 Human Milk Banking Association of North America's IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 30, 2024.
Source of Funds
| Membership dues | $253,942 |
| Conferences and meetings | $154,260 |
| Income from sale of inventory, net | $77,529 |
| Investment income | $32,872 |
| Contributions | $14,966 |
| Total Income | $528,881 |
Programs: 80% Fundraising: 7% Administrative: 13%
| Total Income | $528,881 |
| Total expenses: | $469,021 |
| Program expenses | $375,638 |
| Fundraising expenses | $31,688 |
| Administrative expenses | $61,695 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $59,860 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $1,007,975 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $1,012,410 |
| Total Liabilities | $23,890 |
| Total Assets | $1,036,300 |
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 the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
RELATED CONTENT
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance