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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: February 2026 Expires: February 2028

People and Stories Gente y Cuentos

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
2 8 18
(609) 882-4926
475 Wall Street, Suite 139
Princeton, NJ, 08540
https://peopleandstories.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

People and Stories Gente y Cuentos does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 2 (Number of Board Members)
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

PSGC does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has four voting members of the board.

Standard 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

PSGC does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the organization's 2024 audited financial statements, PSGC spent $156,520 or 59% of its total expenses on programs.

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.

PSGC 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: 7

People and Stories Gente y Cuentos meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to opening doors to literature for new audiences."

Year, State Incorporated:
1993, NJ

People and Stories Gente y Cuentos (PSGC) reports that it works to share literature with new audiences through oral readings and rigorous discussions of contemporary and classic short stories led by trained coordinators. The organization invites participants to gain fresh insights into themselves, others, and the world. PSGC’s Classic program hosts approximately 15-20 adults for eight 90-minute sessions to hear and discuss short stories in English or Spanish. The Writing Our Stories program is an extension of the Classic program, which extends the series to ten 120-minute sessions. During each session, participants respond to a writing prompt, and at the end of the series, participants receive an anthology of the group’s writings. PSGC’s Crossing Borders with Literature program works with partner agencies to promote a deeper understanding across communities, inviting suburban volunteers to attend sessions in urban areas to read and discuss common threads between urban and suburban individuals, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic gaps within and between municipalities.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, People and Stories Gente y Cuentos's program expenses were:

Program services $156,520
Total Program Expenses $156,520

Chief Executive
Debra Lampert-Rudman, Executive Director

Compensation*
$69,731

Chair of the Board
Charles Busuttil

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired

Board Size
4

Paid Staff Size
2

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Workplace Giving

Fundraising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $275,242, 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 People and Stories Gente y Cuentos's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Government grants $171,620
Foundation contributions $55,000
Contributions $34,699
Investment income, net $16,598
Special events $13,923
Program service revenue $5,400
Total Income $297,240

Programs: 59% Fundraising: 7% Administrative: 34%

Total Income $297,240
Total expenses: $266,139
  Program expenses $156,520
  Fundraising expenses $19,154
  Administrative expenses $90,465
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $31,101
Beginning Net Assets $226,670
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $257,771
Total Liabilities $36,459
Total Assets $294,230

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 Serving New Jersey