2017-11-15T10:50:55-06:00 2017-06-30 631133963 Haynes Downard LLP 2121 2nd Avenue North Suite 400 Birmingham AL 35203 990 2016-07-01 631106040 Better Basics Inc BETT 2059442928 1231 Second Avenue South Birmingham AL 35233 Kristi Bradford Executive Director 2059442928 2017-11-15 1 J Max Campbell Jr P00743822 2052543380 2017-11-15 66.194.149.251 2017-11-15 10:02:18 CS P CB0F826B5C960860B53CE4AF6643A1E661D1985B 0A0126B9F46803F160CC76133A3C14D0017AB689 2016 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z Kristi Bradford 1231 Second Avenue South Birmingham AL 35233 1486275 0 X www.betterbasics.org X 1994 AL To make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families by advancing literacy through enrichment and intervention programs. 18 18 93 1107 0 0 1672330 1169488 225625 200189 13497 13552 65617 67034 1977069 1450263 0 0 0 0 1049301 872498 30000 30000 105779 653097 610670 1732398 1513168 244671 -62905 2398186 2338050 44139 34534 2354047 2303516 X To make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families by advancing literacy through enrichment and intervention programs. 0 0 374156 20250 Better Basics operated three afterschool HOPE Centers at elementary schools in Fairfield, AL during the 2016-2017 school year. At the HOPE 21st Century Community Learning Centers, we are creating lasting change in the lives of our students, their families, and the community by delivering high-quality afterschool programming that focuses on enriching experiences that empower students to succeed. The HOPE Centers eliminate the disparity in access to academic enrichment that at-risk students often face. A caring and well-trained staff conducts daily activities designed to improve academic achievement in reading and math while encouraging the development of good character. In the 2016-2017 school year, 148 students participated in the program which operated every afternoon during the school year during the hours when students are most at risk (2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.). On average, 66% of students made improvements in reading/language arts. In addition, HOPE participants had better rates of school day attendance than their peers. 243270 28000 The Reading Intervention program is designed to help improve the reading skills and abilities of children who are performing below grade level. The program is comprised of two components: Small Group Intervention and Reading Mentors. Small Group Intervention serves students recommended by school faculty and identified by Better Basics staff as needing strategic, explicit reading instruction, with the goal of accelerating reading performance. Better Basics hires certified teachers to instruct selected students three times weekly for 20 weeks. Reading mentors serve children who are identified by school staff as needing reading support, but who are not able to be served in small group intervention. Volunteer reading mentors are trained to provide engaging, one-on-one reading experiences with their students with the goal of inspiring an enjoyment of, and an interest in, reading, while ultimately enhancing their independent reading abilities. In the 2016-2017 school year, 20 Reading Intervention teachers instructed 255 students in 11 elementary schools. More than 86% of students accelerated reading ability in our 20-week program. An additional 96 students were tutored by 92 volunteer reading mentors. 139905 0 The MORE program encourages fourth-grade students to read for pleasure by providing students access to a library of high-interest books. Children are encouraged to read 30 minutes per day from the library and are rewarded with books and other incentive prizes by volunteers who visit weekly to motivate students. Students complete book reports to improve and demonstrate reading comprehension and earn a book for every successful book report. Often, a MORE prize book is the first book a student has ever owned. In the 2016-2017 school year, 1,418 fourth-grade students in 62 classrooms across 20 schools were served in the Better Basics MORE program. Classroom volunteers reported that students read 15,920 books, and students and teachers received 20,687 prize and gift books. Through 2,542 hours of service, volunteers helped students become more confident readers while building their home libraries and a lifelong love for reading. 548384 151939 Other program services in the 2016-2017 school year included Birmingham Reads, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Ready 2 Read/Wise Words, Schoolwide Enrichment, Summer Learning, 30 A Day, and Academic Tutoring. The Birmingham Reads event ensured 12,954 elementary-aged students in Birmingham City Schools had books in their home by providing a new book for every student in pre-k through fifth grade as well as providing 700 community volunteers who served as reading role models. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mailed 36,497 books to children birth to age five in areas of high poverty within Jefferson County. A total of 3,758 children are building home libraries through this program. In the Ready 2 Read and Wise Words programs, 2,250 second-grade students read books covering a wide range of interest areas from classroom libraries provided by Better Basics. More than 703 volunteer hours were contributed by 128 community volunteers who encouraged students to read 33,775 books. Schoolwide Enrichment gave 16,088 students in 34 schools the opportunity to benefit from a wide range of arts and cultural programming designed to enhance what is taught in the classroom by building vocabulary, inspiring imaginations, and broadening horizons. Summer Learning worked with four community partners to provide engaging reading and math intervention to 112 at-risk students during a six-week summer program integrated into existing summer camps. The 30 A Day program led 106 students in book clubs at four community partner locations in order to combat summer learning loss. Academic Tutoring provided one-on-one tutoring in reading and mathematics at two locations in the Birmingham City area for students experiencing learning difficulties. The goal of academic tutoring is to improve students' understanding about reading and mathematics concepts and help build students' confidence. Across all programs, Better Basics reached 27,799 children and awarded 76,777 books to children, parents and teachers, with 1,107 community volunteers donating 7,766 hours of service. 548384 151939 1305715 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 41 0 1 93 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 18 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AL X X X Debbie Dziedzic 2059442928 1231 Second Avenue South Birmingham AL 35233 Matthew Dennis Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Will Bueche Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Patty Cobb Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Krystal Drummond Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Scott Gewant Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Waymond Jackson Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Delane Myers Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jsaon Holloway Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Andrew Nix Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jason Rhodes Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Knox Richardson Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Deborah Voltz Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Tameka Wren Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 James Bruno Vice President 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Milton Davis Ad Hoc 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Shirley Fagan President 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Ragan Cain Treasurer 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Valerie Ramsbacher Secretary 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Kristi Bradford Exec. Director 40.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 163941 510247 495300 95135 1169488 Program service fees 611710 200189 200189 200189 13552 13552 103025 36012 67013 67013 Gain on Sale of Asset 900099 21 21 21 1450263 200189 0 80586 807207 715453 37006 54748 479 424 22 33 64812 57621 2913 4278 7895 7895 30000 30000 36154 30214 2590 3350 20 20 100322 81693 13777 4852 13241 13099 89 53 41396 29272 12124 13788 13788 Enrichment activities 144044 144044 Materials distributed 132372 132372 Supplies and equipment 64582 63349 797 436 Donated services 13255 11035 1220 1000 43601 27139 9453 7009 1513168 1305715 101674 105779 1670530 1781982 348438 191223 19780 40201 35641 358057 221443 147155 136614 163771 183976 8311 8614 2398186 2338050 18551 10051 25588 24483 44139 34534 X 1689016 1854533 665031 448983 2354047 2303516 2398186 2338050 -62905 12374 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1512359 1734513 1538670 1672330 1169509 7627381 1512359 1734513 1538670 1672330 1169509 7627381 7627381 2179 2517 7830 13497 13552 39575 7666956 0.99480 0.99620 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 17660 1574 16086 156839 122087 34752 183558 97782 85776 136614 Vacation payable 6636 Accrued payroll 17847 24483 X 1462637 12374 12374 1450263 0 1450263 1513168 0 1513168 0 1513168 Part X, Line 2: As of June 30, 2017, the Organization has no uncertain tax positions that qualify for recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. X X X X X X 1 Swatek Howe & Ross 121 Coosa Street Suite 200 Montgomery AL 36104 Government Affairs and Strategic Management 0 241982 30000 211982 241982 30000 211982 AL Love for Literacy fundraiser 103025 103025 36012 103025 103025 36012 36012 67013 X 12615 Estimated market value X Program supplies and equipment 0 62925 Estimated market val X Event items 0 12170 Estimated market val X Professional services 0 7425 Estimated market val 0 1 0 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Finance Committee, Operations Director and Executive Director review and approve the Form 990. Board members are provided a copy before it is filed with the IRS. Board members are asked to confirm their receipt of the document. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Each staff member is given a copy of the personnel policies and procedures manual which includes the conflict of interest policy. Staff members are required to sign a conflict of interest policy upon hire and once per year during a scheduled staff meeting. Each year in January, board members are required to sign a Conflict of Interest Policy Affirmation and Disclosure Statement. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 Compensation for the Executive Director is reviewed by the Operations Committee and approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors during April of each year. Board meeting minutes and notifications of board decisions are kept on record to substantiate any changes in compensation. The Operations Committee and/or Executive Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the pay scale annually for all other employees. Comparability data for all positions is gathered from salary reports of non-profit organizations across the state as well as from salary reports of organizations (both non-profit and for profit) within the Birmingham area. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The organization makes its Form 990 and audited financial statements available to the public through the websites guidestar.com and betterbasics.org. The organization's governing documents, etc. are available upon request.