Unified Community Connections does not meet the following 3 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.
UCC does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization's effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every 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.
UCC does not meet this Standard because:
- Although the organization reported total revenue in the amount of $25,257,392 for the year ended June 30, 2019, UCC states that it does not have audited financial statements.
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.
UCC does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on the organization's website, https://unified.org/, does not indicate:
- What personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
- How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.
- 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:
3
7
15
19
Unified Community Connections meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Unified Community Connections (UCC) reports that it provides programs and services for individuals with disabilities and chronic health issues throughout Maryland. The organization's programs include adult day services, residential services, transportation services, supported employment services, assistive technology, and in-home supports. UCC states that it also operates Delrey School, which provides academic classes for disabled children aged 2 to 21 throughout Central Maryland. In 2019, UCC reports that it provided more than 46,000 hours of personal assistance to more than 1,000 disabled individuals within its community. In addition, the organization states that it provided assistive technology training and therapy sessions to 512 individuals, operated 43 residential homes, and had 20 students enrolled at its Delrey School.
For the year ended June 30, 2019, Unified Community Connections's program expenses were:
| Program services |
$22,125,008 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$22,125,008 |
-
Chief Executive
Diane K. Coughlin, President and Chief Executive Officer
-
Compensation*
$560,729
-
Chair of the Board
Ellen Milles
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Vice President of Finance, Kennedy Krieger Institute
-
Board Size
20
-
Paid Staff Size
*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, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Radio, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Television
Fundraising costs were 28% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $552,755 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 Unified Community Connections's IRS Form 990 for the year ended June 30, 2019.
| Source of Funds |
| Program service revenue |
$24,074,078 |
| Contributions |
$419,734 |
| Unrealized gain on investments, net |
$382,740 |
| Investment income, net |
$177,255 |
| Special events, net |
$133,021 |
| Sales of assets, net |
$70,564 |
| Total Income |
$25,257,392 |
- Programs: 90%
- Administrative: 10%
- Fundraising: Less than 1%
| Total Income |
$25,257,392 |
| Program expenses |
$22,125,008 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$152,830 |
| Administrative expenses |
$2,451,897 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$24,729,735 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$527,657 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$9,066,907 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$9,594,563 |
| Total Liabilities |
$8,169,432 |
| Total Assets |
$17,763,995 |