Give.org logo
Support Give.org
Support Give.org
CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: March 2024 Expires: March 2026

Health Professionals Network for Tigray

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1 11 12 13 18
(559) 240-0941
25 Southeast 154th Avenue
Portland, OR, 97233
https://hpn4tigray.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Health Professionals Network for Tigray does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
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, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

Health Professionals Network for Tigray does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer at least once every two years.
  • The Chief Executive Officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.

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.

HPN4Tigray does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have financial statements that were reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA).

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.

HPN4Tigray does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:

  • Did not include a breakdown of program service expenses.

Standard 13 (Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements)
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 fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

HPN4Tigray does not meet this Standard because its 2022 IRS Form 990:

  • Reports the organization had no fundraising expenses. It is BBB Wise Giving Alliance's position that the organization incurred fundraising expenses associated with their self-reported direct mail appeals, grant proposals, internet, invitations to fundraising events, membership appeals, and telephone appeals. 

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.

Health Professionals Network for Tigray does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://hpn4tigray.org/ does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.

Health Professionals Network for Tigray meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to develop and implement programs and initiatives based on needs assessments conducted by health professionals and experts on the ground in Tigray, Ethiopia, and Sudan."

Year, State Incorporated:
2021, OR

Also Known As:
HPN4Tigray

The Health Professionals Network for Tigray (HPN4Tigray) reports it is a women and Black-led organization focused on improving access to healthcare in Tigray, Ethiopia, and Sudan. The organization states that some of its members are survivors of past wars and conflicts in the area and draws on those lived experiences to inform its programs and interventions. HPN4Tigray’s programs are developed and implemented based on a needs assessment conducted by local health professionals and experts, with focuses on mental health and community wellness, women and children’s health, resource mobilization and medical services, health policy and research, and advocacy. The organization works to procure medications and medical supplies and implement in-person and telehealth programs while raising awareness for humanitarian needs and advocating for international support. In 2022, the organization distributed 81,766 vials of insulin, provided food to 800 first-sixth grade school children, and supported the nutritional health of 113 children and 37 women and mothers.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, Health Professionals Network for Tigray's program expenses were:

Program services $691,113
Total Program Expenses $691,113

Chief Executive
Dr. Rishan Tesfay Desta, MD, Founder and President

Chair of the Board
Dr. Rishan Tesfay Desta, MD

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Physician and Founder, HPN4Tigray

Board Size
21

Paid Staff Size
0

Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Special events, Telemarketing

Fundraising costs were 124% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $805,262.00, 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 Health Professionals Network for Tigray's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Special events $129,203
Contributions and grants $676,059
Total Income $805,262

Programs: 89% Fundraising: 128% Administrative: 11%

Total Income $805,262
Total expenses: $779,318
  Program expenses $691,113
  Fundraising expenses $1,000,000
  Administrative expenses $88,205
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $25,944
Beginning Net Assets $338,126
Other Changes In Net Assets $1,701
Ending Net Assets $365,771
Total Liabilities $0
Total Assets $365,771

Note: In the above financial statements, “other changes in net assets” refer to $1,701 for prior period adjustments.

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

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance