The Mississippi Secretary of State’s office released a financial report about each charity operating in the state, issuing a warning to check an organization’s spending practices before making a donation.

“Mississippi is the most giving state in the nation,” Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said in a press release. “Our goal is to help you make sure your donations reach those who need your generosity the most.”

According to the release, the Council of Better Business Bureaus states at least 65 percent of a charity’s expenses should be spent on activities directly related to the organization’s purpose, not administrative costs.

Charities seeking funds from Mississippi residents must register with the Secretary of State’s office and submit their financial information for public record.

Local, statewide and national nonprofits all reported their total revenue, total expenses, fundraising expenses, administrative expenses, and charitable purpose expenses. Those totals were then calculated into the percentage of expenses used for charitable and non-charitable purposes.

Reports from local organizations are as follows:

• The Animal Adoption Society in Poplarville reported $14,000 in revenue, expending just under $10,000 in the 2015 fiscal year. About 86 percent of its expenditures were used for charitable purposes.
• Backpack Buddies of Poplarville reported bringing in $6,000 in revenue, $3,401 of which was spent for charitable purposes only.
• Brother’s Keeper Ministries in Poplarville $76,000 in revenue in 2014, expending $72,925 for charitable purposes only.

 

• The Community of Christians Helping Youth in Picayune reported spending 28.92 percent of their $33,760 total expenditures for charitable purposes in 2015. It reported a total revenue of $34,000, $23,998 of which was spent for administrative expenses. “I would say that 100 percent goes to charity,” Roy Acker, CHHY Executive Director, said.

Acker said he was not familiar with the report and did not return emailed questions for clarification by press time.

• Crossroads Food Pantry in Carriere reported total revenue to be $15,454 for 2015, spending about 76 percent of its $6,472 in expenses during that year for its charitable purposes. It also spent $780 on administrative expenses and $729 for fundraising.
• Feeding the Gulf Coast, which provides services and funding to Pearl River County, reported more than $33 million in revenue for 2014, expending about $34.6 million that same year. Eighty-four percent of its expenditures were used for charitable purposes.
• COMmunity, Inc. reported $26,000 in revenue for 2014, expending $18,362, with 92 percent used for charitable spending.
• In 2015, of Heritage Christian Academy reported $195,000 revenue with total expenses equaling $126,645. Ninety-four percent was expended for charitable programs, while about $4,000 was used for administrative expenses.
• Jacob’s Well Ministries, Inc. reported a 2015 revenue of $1.29 million, expending $1.28 million. It used 90 percent of these expenses for charitable programs in 2015. About $122,000 was used for administrative expenses.
• Manna Ministries raised about $583,000 in funds during 2014, expending $625,702. From those expenditures, almost 98 percent was spent directly for charity, with $9,992 spent for administrative purposes and $3,018 for fundraising efforts.
• In 2015, Picayune On Stage, Inc. reported spending 100 percent of its $5,112 expenditures for charitable purposes. However, it reported a revenue of $13,136 for that year.
• Flames of Truth Ministries, Inc., closed last year, director Julia Fortenberry said in an email. In 2014, they reported speeding about 20 percent of their $46,868 total expenditures on charitable purposes. Their revenue for that year was $46,360. Administrative expenses that year totaled $37,302.
• In 2015, Sav-A-Life of the Pearl River Area, located in Picayune, reported a total revenue of $67,318, expending $63,044. Forty-eight percent of expenditures were for charitable programs, while $31,006 was used for administrative expenses and $1,320 for fundraising.

Bonita Wynn, Sav-A-Life Director, said those expenses are mostly for the charity’s two part-time employees. The majority of donations and revenue come from individuals, churches, local businesses and grants, Wynn said. Fundraising expenses include advertising for the charity as well as to solicit more donations, she said.

• The Senior Center of South Pearl River County, Inc. reported a revenue of $172,124 and $161,380 in expenditures for 2015. It spent about 77 percent of its expenditures on charity programs. Administration and fundraising expenses totaled about $36,000 for that year.
• SpayMart, Inc., located in Picayune, reported a total revenue of $3 million in 2014, expending $379,868. It spent 97 percent of that directly on charity, with $7,874 for administrative expenses and $3,261 for fundraising.

National charities like the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (who reported 96 percent of revenue spent for programs in 2015) were also included in the report.

Some charities, like educational institutions, volunteer fire departments and humane societies, are exempt by state law.

The full list of Mississippi charities’ financial reports, as well as information about each organization, can be viewed at www.sos.ms.gov/charities/.