Kids in Need of Defense does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 3 (Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings)
An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.
KIND does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors held two meetings in the year ended December 31, 2019.
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.
KIND 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.
KIND does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has never completed an effectiveness assessment.
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.
KIND does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses, broken down by major program category (advocacy and communications, legal services, and regional and international work).
- Did not identify total projected fund raising expenses.
- Did not identify total 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.
KIND does not meet this Standard because the organization's 2018 annual report did not include:
- Total income.
- Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements (advocacy and communications, legal services, and regional and international work).
- Total fund raising expenses.
- Total administrative expenses.
- Total end of year net assets.
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.
KIND does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://supportkind.org, does not indicate:
- How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.
- How to inform the charity that the visitor does not want his/her information shared with others.
- What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
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:
1
13
15
Kids in Need of Defense meets the remaining 11 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) partners with law firms and corporations to match unaccompanied children with pro bono attorneys to appear in immigration court. The organization aims to assist and protect said minors who are parties to judicial or regulatory proceedings arising from the immigration laws of the United States, whether in the context of removal proceedings or applications for asylum. KIND develops educational materials relating to such practices. The organization also engages in legislative and administration advocacy work to ensure that law, policy, and practice advances the protection of unaccompanied children in the United States. KIND also has regional initiatives that aim to address root causes of migration, educate the public about child migration, and ensure access to protection for migrant children.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, Kids in Need of Defense's program expenses were:
| Legal services |
$102,649,882 |
| Regional and international work |
$1,157,955 |
| Advocacy and communications |
$968,574 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$104,776,411 |
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events
Fundraising costs were less than 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $117,898,030, 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 Kids in Need of Defense's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.
| Source of Funds |
| Donated legal services |
$90,390,154 |
| Government grants and contract income |
$10,959,707 |
| Contributions |
$7,948,108 |
| Grants |
$7,777,619 |
| Special events |
$822,442 |
| Fellowship |
$277,540 |
| Interest income |
$141,511 |
| Other income |
$73,456 |
| Total Income |
$118,390,537 |
- Programs: 98%
- Administrative: 2%
- Fundraising: Less than 1%
| Total Income |
$118,390,537 |
| Program expenses |
$104,776,411 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$791,484 |
| Administrative expenses |
$1,743,318 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$107,311,213 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$11,079,324 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$12,385,203 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$23,464,527 |
| Total Liabilities |
$1,831,841 |
| Total Assets |
$25,296,368 |
Note: According to KIND's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $90,390,154 in the form of legal services.