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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2025 Expires: October 2027

Keep America Beautiful

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 7 14 16 18
(203) 659-3000
1010 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT, 06901
https://kab.org
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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

Keep America Beautiful does not meet the following 5 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.

KAB 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.

KAB 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.

KAB does not meet this Standard because when the organization provided 2025 budget information, it did not include:

  • Projected program expenses.
  • Projected fundraising expenses.
  • Projected administrative expenses.

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.

KAB does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2024.

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.

KAB does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://kab.org, does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect visitors' information.

Keep America Beautiful meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to inspire and educate people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment."

Year, State Incorporated:
1953, TX

Keep America Beautiful (KAB) has a network of local, statewide, and international affiliate programs that educate individuals about litter prevention and ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, and properly manage waste materials. Through partnerships and alliances with citizens, businesses, and government, KAB programs involve volunteers cleaning up, beautifying, and improving their neighborhoods, with the aim of creating healthier, safer, and more livable community environments.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Keep America Beautiful's program expenses were:

Program services $5,806,737
Total Program Expenses $5,806,737

Chief Executive
Jennifer Lawson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$342,098

Chair of the Board
Kara Calderon

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Senior Director, ESG & Community Engagement, Reynolds American, Inc.

Board Size
19

Paid Staff Size
22

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

Fundraising costs were 14% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $7,136,649, 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 Keep America Beautiful's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants $7,086,469
Contract income $435,884
Conferences and fees $303,414
Realized and unrealized gains on investments $303,317
In-kind contributions $50,180
Other income $40,000
Investment income, net $11,909
Total Income $8,231,173

Programs: 76% Fundraising: 13% Administrative: 11%

Total Income $8,231,173
Total expenses: $7,612,882
  Program expenses $5,806,737
  Fundraising expenses $973,508
  Administrative expenses $832,637
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $618,291
Beginning Net Assets $3,231,659
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $3,849,950
Total Liabilities $942,022
Total Assets $4,791,972

Note: According to KAB's 2024 audited financial statements, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $50,180 in the form of donated media.

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