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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2024 Expires: October 2026

National Center for Appropriate Technology

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
7 14
(800) 275-6228
3040 Continental Drive, Post Office Box 3838
Butte, MT, 59702
https://ncat.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

National Center for Appropriate Technology does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

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.

NCAT 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.

NCAT does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2024 budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
  • Included total projected program service expenses, however, did not break these expenses down by major program category (sustainable agriculture programs and sustainable energy programs).

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

National Center for Appropriate Technology meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to help people build resilient communities through local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, strengthen self-reliance, and protect natural resources."

Year, State Incorporated:
1976, MT

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) supports sustainable agriculture, local food systems, homegrown energy solutions, and resilient communities. The organization has six regional offices that provide hands-on assistance to individuals, community groups, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The Energy Service program assesses businesses, schools, hospitals, universities, and government buildings to facilitate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. NCAT also assists low-income individuals across the country with heating bills, energy conservation, and weatherization through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse and the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) program. The organization provides sustainable-agriculture services, such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA), helping smaller-scale family farmers and ranchers practice sustainable production to conserve natural resources and maximize profits. NCAT's FoodCorps program focuses on farm-to-school efforts to address childhood obesity and nutrition education.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, National Center for Appropriate Technology's program expenses were:

Sustainable agricultural programs $6,426,905
Sustainable energy programs $1,467,934
Total Program Expenses $7,894,839

Chief Executive
Fred Bahnson, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$166,320

Chair of the Board
Jacqueline Hutchinson

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

Board Size
13

Paid Staff Size
77

*2023 compensation, as reported by the organization, includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: Fred Bahnson became Chief Executive Officer on July 5, 2023. Former Executive Director, Steve Thompson, received $171,939 in compensation in 2022.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Radio, Telemarketing

Fundraising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $447,691, 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 National Center for Appropriate Technology's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Other income $11,963
Investment income $23,643
In-kind contributions $41,441
Contributions $406,250
Contract revenues $1,185,017
Grant revenues $7,198,786
Total Income $8,867,100

Programs: 90% Fundraising: 1% Administrative: 9%

Total Income $8,867,100
Total expenses: $8,753,636
  Program expenses $7,894,839
  Fundraising expenses $58,976
  Administrative expenses $782,115
  Other expenses $17,706
Income in Excess of Expenses $113,464
Beginning Net Assets $2,617,943
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $2,731,407
Total Liabilities $2,007,850
Total Assets $4,739,257

Note 1: According to the organization's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the year ended September 30, 2023, NCAT received in-kind contributions totaling $41,441 in the form of rent and professional services.

Note 2: In the financial section above, “other expenses” refers to unallowable expenses.

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.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance