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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: January 2025 Expires: January 2027

Swim Across America

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 7 14
(980) 272-8522
8508 Park Road, #389
Charlotte, NC, 28210
https://www.swimacrossamerica.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

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

Swim Across America 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.

SAA 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.

SAA does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization did not produce a written report outlining the results of its effectiveness assessment performed in December 2022.

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.

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

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

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: 13, 19

Swim Across America meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to raise money and awareness for cancer research, prevention, and treatment."

Year, State Incorporated:
1992, CT

Swim Across America (SAA) reports that it awards grants to cancer research, detection, and patient support programs. In 2022, the organization states that it distributed more than six million dollars in grants to 34 organizations for cancer research.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, Swim Across America's program expenses were:

Program services $8,618,979
Total Program Expenses $8,618,979

Chief Executive
Robert Butcher, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$362,770

Chair of the Board
Pam Ryan

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

Board Size
13

Paid Staff Size
9

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

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

Fundraising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $9,413,225, 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 Swim Across America's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Investment income, net $-420,213
Interest income $374
Employee retention credit income $40,595
Sponsorship $524,547
Contributions $8,848,083
Total Income $8,993,386

Programs: 94% Fundraising: 3% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $8,993,386
Total expenses: $9,192,297
  Program expenses $8,618,979
  Fundraising expenses $305,491
  Administrative expenses $267,827
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-198,911
Beginning Net Assets $7,727,017
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $7,528,106
Total Liabilities $28,983
Total Assets $7,557,089

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