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CHARITY REVIEW

Rescue Me

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
4 11 16 17 18
(800) 800-2099
2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 2001
Washington, DC, 20006
https://www.rescueme.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

Rescue Me does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 4 (Compensated Board Members)
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

Rescue me does not meet this Standard because:

  • The paid Chief Executive Officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.
  • The chair of the board is directly compensated.
  • The treasurer of the board of directors is directly compensated.

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.

Rescue Me does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization received $1,039,545 for the year ended December 31, 2022, World Organization did not have audited financial statements.

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.

Rescue Me does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2022.

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.

Rescue Me does not meet this Standard because the organization’s website, https://www.rescueme.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • Electronic access to the organization’s 2022 IRS Form 990.
  • A summary of 2022 program service accomplishments.
  • A roster of the organization's board of directors.

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.

Rescue Me does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on the organization's website, https://www.rescueme.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: 2, 13, 14

Rescue Me meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to provide health and disease research, environmental education, animal rehabilitation, and promote animal adoptions."

Year, State Incorporated:
2012, GA

Also Known As:
World Organization

Rescue Me reports that it operates a network of dog and cat rescue shelters. The organization states that it offers scientific research on wildlife preservation, including habitat development and ecological monitoring, along with the facilitation of the rescue and adoption of wildlife.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, Rescue Me's program expenses were:

Program services $882,619
Total Program Expenses $882,619

Chief Executive
Jeffrey Gold, Founder and President

Compensation*
$180,000

Chair of the Board
Jeffrey Gold

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Founder and President, Rescue Me

Board Size
5

Paid Staff Size
20

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet

Fundraising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,039,545, 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 Rescue Me's IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Contributions $745,190
Google services $294,355
Total Income $1,039,545

Programs: 90% Fundraising: 2% Administrative: 7%

Total Income $1,039,545
Total expenses: $975,630
  Program expenses $882,619
  Fundraising expenses $19,867
  Administrative expenses $73,144
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $63,915
Beginning Net Assets $199,892
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $263,807
Total Liabilities $0
Total Assets $263,807

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