Literacy Connects
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
Literacy Connects does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability:
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.
Literacy Connects does not meet this standard because:
Organization has over $1M in annual revenue but does not produce audited financial statements. Organization states intent to conduct an audit in 2024.
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.
Literacy Connects does not meet this standard because:
Organization does not produce an annual report.
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.
Literacy Connects does not meet this standard because:
Organization's privacy policy does not state what security measures are in place to protect donors' personal information from unauthorized access.
Literacy Connects meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
Year, State Incorporated:
1969, AZ
Also Known As:
Literacy Volunteers of Tucson Reading Seed Literacy for Life Coalition Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona Stories That Soar!
For the year ended June 30, 2022, Literacy Connects's program expenses were:
| Program services | $2,030,224 |
| Total Program Expenses | $2,030,224 |
Chief Executive
Sharon O'Brien, Executive Director
Chair of the Board
Amy Beiter, Board Chairperson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired
Board Size
11
Paid Staff Size
39
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Planned giving arrangements, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, 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 Literacy Connects's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022.
Source of Funds
| Contributions | $951,434 |
| Grants | $743,782 |
| Debt extinguishment - Paycheck Protection Loan | $280,740 |
| Government contracts | $269,286 |
| In-kind contributions | $172,983 |
| Special events | $137,246 |
| Program service fees | $7,630 |
| Investment loss | $-6,078 |
| Change in value of beneficial interest in funds held by others | $-18,357 |
| Total Income | $2,538,666 |
Programs: 85% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 5%
| Total Income | $2,538,666 |
| Total expenses: | $2,402,591 |
| Program expenses | $2,030,224 |
| Fundraising expenses | $245,824 |
| Administrative expenses | $126,543 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $136,075 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $2,768,285 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $2,904,360 |
| Total Liabilities | $466,900 |
| Total Assets | $3,371,260 |
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 Serving Southern Arizona