Variety - the Children's Charity of Wisconsin 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.
Variety Wisconsin 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 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.
Variety Wisconsin does not meet this Standard because:
- According to its reviewed financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, the organization spent $168,076 or 40% of its total expenses on programs.
Standard 9 (Fund Raising Expense Ratio)
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.
Variety Wisconsin does not meet this Standard because:
- According to its reviewed financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, the organization's fundraising costs were 49% ($148,945) of related contributions, which totaled $303,677.
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.
Variety Wisconsin does not meet this Standard because the 2020 annual report did not include:
- A roster of the organization's board of directors.
- The organization's financial information for the year ended September 30, 2020.
Standard 17 (Web Site Disclosures)
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.
Variety Wisconsin does not meet this Standard because the organization’s website, https://varietywi.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:
- Electronic access to the organization’s IRS Form 990 for the year ended September 30, 2020.
- The organization's financial information for the year ended September 30, 2020.
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:
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Variety - the Children's Charity of Wisconsin meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Variety - the Children's Charity of Wisconsin (Variety Wisconsin) reports that it serves disabled and special needs children in Wisconsin through improving a child's mobility, confidence, independence, and garnering community involvement. The organization provides disabled children with adaptive equipment, which includes wheelchairs, bikes, walkers, lifts, ramps, and offers vehicle modifications. Assistive communication devices are supplied to special needs children by Variety Wisconsin, along with operating a communication camp that teaches families how to incorporate a speech operating device into everyday life. The organization also offers year-round activities to allow children and their families to socialize and build self-esteem.
For the year ended September 30, 2020, Variety - the Children's Charity of Wisconsin's program expenses were:
| Program services |
$168,076 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$168,076 |
-
Chief Executive
Nancy Seidl Nelson, Interim Executive Director
-
Compensation*
$64,000
-
Chair of the Board
Lois Trongard
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Market Business Operations Director, Bryant & Stratton College
-
Board Size
10
-
Paid Staff Size
3
*2019 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, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Other
Fundraising costs were 49% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $303,677 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 Variety - the Children's Charity of Wisconsin's Unaudited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$210,307 |
| Special events, net |
$108,121 |
| Investment income |
$73,890 |
| Foundation grants |
$57,800 |
| In-kind contributions |
$41,549 |
| Heart campaign |
$5,770 |
| Total Income |
$497,437 |
- Programs: 40%
- Fundraising: 35%
- Administrative: 25%
| Total Income |
$497,437 |
| Program expenses |
$168,076 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$148,945 |
| Administrative expenses |
$107,555 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$424,576 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$72,861 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$505,890 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$578,751 |
| Total Liabilities |
$15,802 |
| Total Assets |
$594,553 |
Note: According to Variety Wisconsin's reviewed financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, the organization received $41,549 in contributed goods and services including bicycles and medical equipment ($14,209), tickets ($13,983), and other supplies and services ($13,357).