Friends Of Karen
Meets Standards
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
Friends Of Karen meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
Friends of Karen aims to provide emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to help keep them stable, functioning and able to cope. Friends of Karen started in 1978 with one family; one child, Karen Maclnnes; and one inspired woman, Sheila Petersen. Since then, we have assisted more than 18,500 ill children, their siblings and their families.
Year, State Incorporated:
1979, NY
Friends of Karen's core Family Support Program offers individualized case management provided by a team of experienced, professional social workers, child-life specialists and creative arts therapists. This program includes emotional support and illness education for all members of the family, a support program for the ill child's healthy siblings, survivorship support, and end-of-life and bereavement support if the ill child dies. Also, Friends of Karen provides financial assistance that helps families cover illness-related and basic living expenses that become unmanageable when one or both parents must stop working to care for their ill child. The financial support program also helps cover the cost of childcare for siblings and hospital travel. Moreover, advocacy support is included to ensure that families have access to all available benefits from government and other agencies; support from other organizations; pro bono legal counsel; and help with educational needs. Other important programs are: our Holiday Adopt-a-Family gift program; and Back-to-School supplies and clothing; Summer Sacks, Memorial Ceremony for bereaved families; supermarket gift cards; and birthday gifts for all children in the family.
For the year ended March 31, 2024, Friends Of Karen's program expenses were:
| Program Services | $3,453,258 |
| Total Program Expenses | $3,453,258 |
Board Size
17
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
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 Friends Of Karen's audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024.
Source of Funds
| Special events | $1,450,495 |
| Contributions | $1,367,953 |
| Grants | $764,174 |
| In-kind contributions | $279,637 |
| Other income | $22,589 |
| Less: direct cost of special events | $-345,882 |
| Total Income | $3,538,966 |
Programs: 76% Fundraising: 13% Administrative: 11%
| Total Income | $3,538,966 |
| Total expenses: | $4,518,078 |
| Program expenses | $3,453,258 |
| Fundraising expenses | $576,264 |
| Administrative expenses | $488,556 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-979,112 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $5,928,542 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $597,574 |
| Ending Net Assets | $5,547,004 |
| Total Liabilities | $144,174 |
| Total Assets | $5,691,178 |
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 Foundation of Metropolitan New York