2016-10-12T10:49:32-05:00 2016-06-30 631133963 Haynes Downard LLP 2121 2nd Avenue North Suite 400 Birmingham AL 35203 990 2015-07-01 631106040 Better Basics Inc BETT 2059442928 1231 Second Avenue South Birmingham AL 35233 Ammie Akin Executive Director 2059442928 2016-10-11 1 J Max Campbell Jr P00743822 2052543380 2016-10-11 2015 2017-02-10 21:41:12Z X Ammie Akin 1231 Second Avenue South Birmingham AL 35233 2014231 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. 19 19 110 1051 0 0 1541033 1672330 223613 225625 6486 13497 53451 65617 1824583 1977069 0 0 0 0 1076530 1049301 30000 30000 120724 552300 653097 1658830 1732398 165753 244671 2189532 2398186 74809 44139 2114723 2354047 X To make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families by advancing literacy through enrichment and intervention programs. 0 0 426043 14125 Better Basics operated three afterschool centers at elementary schools in Fairfield, AL during the 2015-2016 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 2015-2016 school year, 174 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, 73% of students made improvements in reading. 297303 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 2015-2016 school year, 24 Reading Intervention teachers instructed 333 students in 12 elementary schools. More than 91% of students accelerated reading ability in our 20-week program. An additional 117 students were tutored by 89 volunteer reading mentors. 205911 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 2015-2016 school year, 2,294 fourth-grade students in 98 classrooms across 33 schools were served in the Better Basics MORE program. Classroom volunteers reported that students read 22,213 books, and students and teachers received more than 25,250 books. Through 2,095 hours of service, volunteers helped students become more confident readers while building their home libraries and a lifelong love for reading. 569147 183500 Other program services in the 2015-2016 school year included Birmingham Reads, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Ready 2 Read/Wise Words, Schoolwide Enrichment, Summer Learning, and 30 A Day. The Birmingham Reads project ensured 13,157 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 and community volunteers who served as reading role models. More than 750 volunteer hours were contributed by 692 volunteers during this event. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mailed 42,534 books to children birth to age five in areas of high poverty within Jefferson County. A total of 4,452 children built home libraries through this program. In the Ready 2 Read and Wise Words programs, 2,312 second-grade students read books covering a wide range of interest areas from classroom libraries provided by Better Basics. More than 696 volunteer hours were contributed by 133 community volunteers who encouraged students to read more than 48,609 books. Schoolwide Enrichment gave 18,097 students in 37 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 five community partners to provide engaging reading and math intervention to 159 at-risk students during a six-week summer program integrated into existing summer camps. The 30 A Day program led 152 students im book clubs at five community partner locations in order to combat summer learning loss. Across all programs, Better Basics reached more than 26,123 children and awarded more than 92,709 books to children, parents and teachers. 569147 183500 1498404 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 35 0 1 110 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 19 19 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 John Brown 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 LaToya Flint 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 Frank James 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 Joe Schmidt Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Deborah Voltz Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Tamula Yelling Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 James Bruno President 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Milton Davis Ad Hoc 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Shirley Fagan Vice 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 Karen Kapp Former Executive Director (partial year) 40.00 X 76422 0 0 Ammie Akin Executive Director (partial year) 40.00 X 48412 0 0 William Harris Chief Financial Officer (partial year) 40.00 X 32085 0 0 156919 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 163074 668602 840654 94657 1672330 Program service fees 611710 225625 225625 225625 13497 13497 102779 37162 65617 65617 1977069 225625 0 79114 156919 139658 7846 9415 802014 716996 39291 45727 11976 9427 1777 772 78392 70072 3840 4480 7970 7970 30000 30000 931 931 95523 73459 16800 5264 19657 18688 442 527 32777 28113 4664 14756 14756 Enrichment activities 159330 159330 Materials distributed 150893 150893 Supplies and equipment 74142 68618 1756 3768 Contracted services 19026 16330 96 2600 78092 46820 14032 17240 1732398 1498404 113270 120724 1598317 1670530 226197 348438 24500 19780 45778 40201 327201 180046 126719 147155 159450 163771 8571 8311 2189532 2398186 4110 18551 70699 25588 74809 44139 X 1353393 1689016 761330 665031 2114723 2354047 2189532 2398186 244671 -5347 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1118582 1512359 1734513 1538670 1672330 7576454 1118582 1512359 1734513 1538670 1672330 7576454 7576454 2870 2179 2517 7830 13497 28893 7605347 0.99620 0.99740 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 11147 11147 138167 103714 34453 177887 76332 101555 147155 Vacation payable 9715 Accrued payroll 15873 25588 X 1971722 -5347 -5347 1977069 0 1977069 1732398 0 1732398 0 1732398 Part X, Line 2: As of June 30, 2016, 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 241927 30000 211927 241927 30000 211927 AL Love for Literacy fundraiser 102779 102779 5800 11428 19934 102779 102779 5800 11428 19934 37162 65617 X 18196 Estimated market value X Program supplies and equipment 0 50384 Estimated market val X Event items 0 14829 Estimated market val X Professional services 0 11248 Estimated market val 0 1 0 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11 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.