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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: April 2024 Expires: April 2026

Clean Lakes Alliance

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 7 14 18
(608) 255-1000
150 East Gilman Street, Suite 2600
Madison, WI, 53703
https://cleanlakesalliance.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

Clean Lakes Alliance does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

CLA does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

CLA does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

CLA does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2023 budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses broken down by major program category (education programs and watershed programs).
  • Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

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.

CLA 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: 4, 15, 19

Clean Lakes Alliance meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
“to champion our lakes and watershed stewardship for the benefit of all.”

Year, State Incorporated:
2010, WI

Clear Lakes Alliance (CLA) is a partnership of diverse stakeholders who are building on and expanding upon decades of ongoing efforts to preserve and restore the Yahara River watershed. The organization engages governmental agencies, citizens, businesses, and other community-based organizations to advocate and protect the welfare of the area’s lakes.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, Clean Lakes Alliance's program expenses were:

Education programming $434,594
Watershed programming $504,816
Total Program Expenses $939,410

Chief Executive
J. James Tye III, Executive Director and Founder

Compensation*
$169,219

Chair of the Board
Linda Nedelcoff

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Chief Strategy and Human Resources Officer, TruStage

Board Size
8

Paid Staff Size
13

*2021 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, Radio, Special events, Foundation grants, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

Fundraising costs were 14% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,575,727, 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 Clean Lakes Alliance's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Source of Funds
Investment income $1,155
In-kind contributions $105,388
Employee Retention Credit $162,202
Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness $162,975
Grants $172,427
Programs and sponsorships $239,985
Contributions $732,750
Total Income $1,576,882

Programs: 73% Fundraising: 17% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $1,576,882
Total expenses: $1,289,328
  Program expenses $939,410
  Fundraising expenses $222,558
  Administrative expenses $127,360
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $287,554
Beginning Net Assets $671,191
Other Changes In Net Assets $4,894
Ending Net Assets $963,639
Total Liabilities $74,816
Total Assets $1,038,455

Note 1: As noted in the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to change in beneficial interest in assets held at Madison Community Foundation.
Note 2: According to CLA’s audited financial statements for 2021, the organization received in-kind contributions of $105,388 in rent ($66,582), program supplies and services ($22,973), and professional services ($15,833).

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