Child Advocates of Fort Bend
Accredited Charity
Meets Standards
Accredited Charity
Meets Standards
Standards Legend
- Meets Standards
- Standards Not Met
- Did Not Disclose
- Review In Progress
- Unable to Verify
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1
Description
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fundraising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Size
Number of Board Members: Standard 2
Description
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Meetings
Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Compensation
Compensated Board Members: Standard 4
Description
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.The organization meets this standard.
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Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest: Standard 5
Description
No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.The organization meets this standard.
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
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Effectiveness Report
Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
Finances
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Program Expenses
Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8
Description
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.The organization meets this standard.
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Fundraising Expenses
Fundraising Expense Ratio: Standard 9
Description
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fundraising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fundraising efforts.The organization meets this standard.
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Accumulating Funds
Ending Net Assets: Standard 10
Description
Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.The organization meets this standard.
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Audit Report
Financial Statements: Standard 11
Description
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, 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.The organization meets this standard.
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12
Description
Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fundraising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.The organization meets this standard.
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Accurate Expense Reporting
Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13
Description
Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fundraising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fundraising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Budget Plan
Budget: Standard 14
Description
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fundraising, and administration.The organization meets this standard.
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
Misleading Appeals: Standard 15
Description
Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.The organization meets this standard.
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Annual Report
Annual Report: Standard 16
Description
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, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.The organization meets this standard.
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Website Disclosures
Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17
Description
Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.The organization meets this standard.
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Donor Privacy
Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18
Description
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.The organization meets this standard.
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19
Description
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).The organization meets this standard.
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Complaints
Complaints: Standard 20
Description
Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fundraising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.The organization meets this standard.
Conclusion
Child Advocates of Fort Bend meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Purpose
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Year, State Incorporated
1991, TX
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Stated Purpose
Child Advocates of Fort Bend provides a voice, heals the hurt, and breaks the cycle of abuse and neglect for children in Fort Bend County.
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Also Known As:
Fort Bend County Child Advocates, Inc.
Programs
Overview: Child Advocates of Fort Bend serves abused andneglected children in Fort Bend County ages birth through 18 years through two nationally-affiliated programs: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Children’s Advocacy Center. They have served 13,000 children since they began and 1,582 children and families in 2015, alone. The CASA program matched 100% of children (280) in foster care with a community volunteer (CASA). The Children’s Advocacy Center provided investigative and clinical services by a staff of social workers and mental health professionals to 1,302 children and families.Services: CASA Program provides age-specific programming to children and youth through 3 services:Infant and Toddler (birth – 5 years old): focus on parent-child visitations andfamily reunification, increased frequency of court reviews, and acceleratedpermanency plans.N.E.S.T. (6 – 13 years old): focus on Nurturing Education & Social Triumphs to build a solid foundation in educational attainment, socialskills/extracurricular involvement, and health.WINGS (14-18 years old): focus on supporting educational goals includinggraduating from high school, developing positive connections with three caringadults, and developing a transitional living plan.Children’s Advocacy Center: Child victims are brought to the Center bylaw enforcement or Children’s Protective Services (CPS) where trainedspecialists, social workers and therapists conduct forensic interviews,coordinate the civil and criminal investigation, facilitate resource services,and other therapy to help children heal from their trauma.Forensic Interviewing & Victim Advocacy Services: Staff of six (6) victim advocacy specialistsprovide forensic interviews of child victims, case management and criminalcourt advocacy so that victims and families receive professional supportthroughout the duration of their cases.Bilingual Services: Specialized services for Spanish-speaking and bilingual children andtheir families offering all of the mainstream services as well as specializedcultural and social resources and support.Therapy Services: Five (5) full-time licensed therapists offer a variety of therapies freeto child victims and non-offending family members including: group, individual and play therapy as well astherapy using art and music.Multi-Disciplinary Team: facilitate partnership with 22agencies (Law Enforcement, District Attorney’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, CPS, Sheriff’s Office.)Medical Services: partnership with UT CARE & Harris Health Systems.Demographics:Type of Abuse: Sexual abuse: 64%Risk of Abuse: 3%Neglect: 12%Physical Abuse: 17%Witness to Violence: 4%Ages:0-5 years: 25%6-12 years: 39 – 18 years: 35 years: 1%Ethnicity:African American: 34%Hispanic: 36�ucasian: 22%Other/Bi-racial: 6%Asian: 2%
For the year ended December 31, 2019, Child Advocates of Fort Bend program expenses were:
| Program Expenses | $2,997,467 |
| Program Expenses | $2,997,467 |
Governance & Staff
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CEO
Ms. Ruthanne Mefford, CEO
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Compensation*
¤216,019.00
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Board Chair
Dr. Betty Baitland, Retired/School Superintendent
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Ft Bend ISD
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Board Size
24
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Paid Staff Size
32
Governance
* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.
Fundraising
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).
% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 1.82%
Tax Status
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.
Financial
The following information is based on Child Advocates of Fort Bend's Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019
| Source of Funds | |
|---|---|
| Contributions & Grants | $3,855,401 |
| Federal & State Grants | $1,878,174 |
| Net Investment Return | $633,278 |
| Special Events | $559,531 |
| In-Kind contributions | $34,350 |
| Partner Reimbursement | $16,181 |
| Less: cost of direct benefits to donors | $-74,152 |
| Total Income | $6,902,763 |
Breakdown of Expenses
| Total Income | $6,902,763 |
| Total Expenses: | $4,556,697 |
| Program Expenses | $2,997,467 |
| Fundraising Expenses | $114,061 |
| Administrative Expenses | $794,474 |
| Other Expenses | $650,695 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $2,346,066 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $12,764,828 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $906,900 |
| Ending Net Assets | $16,017,794 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,626,375 |
| Total Assets | $17,644,169 |
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