Teen Challenge and the Better Business Bureau

[Firebird81]

Here is another falsehood on Karly's blog concerning Teen Challenge. She shows a BBB report for Teen Challenge that says teh better Business Bureau recommends investigating this chairty before giving. What she DOESN'T tell you is that she cherry-picked The Teen Challenge headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, completely ignoring the entire list of Teen Challenges the BBB shows on their website who ARE members in good standing  of the Better Business Bureau.

But the question begs, why would the headquarters NOT be a member and why the report? The headqaurters of Teen Challenge are simply adminstrative offices. No one is treated there and there is no Teen Challenge center there. They do not solicit donations, so they had no need to return the questionnaire from the Better Business Bureau, hence the warning.

If you are considering giving to Teen Challenge, since that is the only purpose the BBB report is meant to address, then by all means go to the BBB's website and look up the local center you are thinking about giving to. If you are an addict or family member considering using TC for help, then you should call your local center and ask them all of the tough questions you have to address your concerns. But, please do not by any means put any creedence whatosever into some weblog or anti-TC rant page purporting to warn you of the dangers of TC. Anyone can put up a blog or website and say anything they want. And they can be grinding whatever axe they see fit. That does not make it true. Research for yourself.

[Deborah]

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comment (Nondisclosure)                  
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Despite written BBB Wise Giving Alliance requests in the past year, this organization either has not responded to Alliance requests for information or has declined to be evaluated in relation to the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability. While participation in the Alliance’s charity review efforts is voluntary, the Alliance believes that failure to participate may demonstrate a lack of commitment to transparency. Without the requested information, the Alliance cannot determine if these charities adhere to the Standards for Charity Accountability.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance reports on national charities and determines if they meet 20 voluntary standards on matters such as charity finances, appeals, and governance. Without the requested information, it cannot verify if the charity meets these standards. The Alliance does not evaluate the worthiness of the charitable program.  

Tax Status                  
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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.  

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. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report reflects the results of an evaluation of informational materials provided voluntarily by the organization. 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 judgement. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.
http://charityreports.give.org/Public/R ... ityID=1300

[Firebird81]

for which center is that, deborah? Also, look at he number of complaints filed with the BBB against that center.

[Deborah]

What I got from the above report, was that it was a general warning for their corp, that a person should check individual reports.
Only 7 of 31 locations are members of BBB.
http://search.bbb.org/Results.aspx?n=Te ... &c=&st=&z=

[Karly]

Deborah- Thanks for the great post!

[Firebird81]

Debrah, actually, that is wrong. The BBB reports on individual businesses. Each Teen Challenge center is an individual business. If they were meaning it to apply to the entire organization, then they would put it unanimously on every center's report. Instead, most of the centers are reported as satisfactorily meeting the standards of the BBB and some are listed as members. Only 31 centers are actually listed there, which is interesting since there are about 200 in the U.S. alone. I do know that LATC, OCTC and Riverside Teen Challenge all had BBB membership plaques on their walls, yet none of them are even listed at all. Perhaps the webist isn't all conclusive or only reports on businesses that people have specifically requested.

I also know that on the walls of LATC were commendations given by the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. Teen Challenge is also a member of the ECFA, which is a Christian financial accountability organization that reports on Religious charities. You cna go to the link below to see the ECFA's website, it's listed standards of compliance and information on any numbe rof religious charities, including Teen Challenge.
http://www.ecfa.org/