Sky's the Limit Fund 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.
STLF 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.
STLF does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
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 $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, 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.
STLF does not meet this Standard because:
- Although the organization reported total revenue in the amount of $1,925,840 for the year ended June 30, 2021, STLF states it does not have audited financial statements.
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.
STLF does not meet this Standard because the 2021 annual report did not include:
- A roster of the organization's board of directors.
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.
STLF does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on the organization's website, https://www.skysthelimitfund.org/, does not indicate:
- 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:
15
Sky's the Limit Fund meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Year, State Incorporated
2010, CA
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Stated Purpose
"to transform the lives of youth in crisis and their families by providing access to wilderness therapy programs, coaching services to guide families during the transition home, and outreach to educate the community on the benefits of wilderness therapy."
Sky's the Limit Fund (STLF) reports that it offers access to wilderness therapy for youth and young adults in mental health crisis. For children and families with financial need, the organization states that it offers financial assistance ranging from $3,000-$15,000 per youth/young adult that enables the individual to attend one of its partner programs. STLF reports that it partners with 14 wilderness therapy programs across the United States and requires its partners to support its funding with a reduction in tuition. In 2021, the organization reports that 179 youth participated in its wilderness therapy programs across 33 states.
For the year ended June 30, 2021, Sky's the Limit Fund's program expenses were:
| Program services |
$1,028,653 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$1,028,653 |
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Chief Executive
Debbie Roelands, Interim Executive Director
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Compensation*
$0
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Chair of the Board
Lisa O?Hearn-Keck
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Dean of Students, Palo Alto Prep High School
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Board Size
15
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Paid Staff Size
6
*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Note: Debbie Roelands compensation is not available at this time. Michael Ferguson served as STLF's Executive Director until April 2021, receiving $40,189 in compensation.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Telephone appeals, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
Fundraising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,917,835 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 Sky's the Limit Fund's IRS Form 990 for the year ended June 30, 2021.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$1,799,723 |
| Special events, net |
$106,245 |
| Government grants |
$7,000 |
| Investment income |
$5,305 |
| In-kind contributions |
$4,867 |
| Program service revenue |
$2,700 |
| Total Income |
$1,925,840 |
- Programs: 84%
- Fundraising: 14%
- Administrative: 2%
| Total Income |
$1,925,840 |
| Program expenses |
$1,028,653 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$177,036 |
| Administrative expenses |
$33,649 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$1,239,338 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$686,502 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$970,537 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$869 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$1,657,908 |
| Total Liabilities |
$0 |
| Total Assets |
$1,657,908 |
Note: For the year ended June 30, 2021, STLF reports that it received $4,867 in donated rent.