Better Cities & Towns Inc

990EZ • Fiscal year 2015 • EIN 46-0857066

Jan 01, 2015 to Dec 31, 2015 • Filed on Sep 26, 2016

Organization Profile N/A

218 Utica StreetIthaca, NY 14850

(607) 275-3087

Siviq Scores

Precomputed percentiles for this filing year versus similar nonprofits in the same peer cohort.

3.93x

Higher debt load relative to assets than 98% of similar nonprofits.

2015 filings • 501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2015

0.18x

Higher debt load relative to revenue than 86% of similar nonprofits.

2015 filings • 501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2015

-7.9%

Higher net margin than 26% of similar nonprofits.

2015 filings • 501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2015

Higher top officer pay than 75% of similar nonprofits.

Top officer pay equals 0.0% of source-year revenue.

2015 filings • 501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2015

-28%

Faster asset growth than 16% of similar nonprofits.

2015 filings • 501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Annualized from 2014 to 2015

38%

Faster revenue growth than 82% of similar nonprofits.

2015 filings • 501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Annualized from 2014 to 2015

Balance Sheet

Liabilities / Assets98th percentile

Assets

Down

$7,911

Down $3,066 (-28%) from 2014

Net Assets

Down

-$23,186

Down $13,783 (-147%) from 2014

Liabilities

$31,097

Up $10,717 (+53%) from 2014

Revenue And Expenses

Liabilities / Revenue86th percentile Net Margin26th percentile

Revenue

$173,431

Up $47,447 (+38%) from 2014

Expenses

$187,214

Up $50,797 (+37%) from 2014

Net Income

Down

-$13,783

Down $3,350 (-32%) from 2014

Historical Trend

Balance Sheet Trend

Asset Growth16th percentile

The highlighted filing sits inside the broader history for assets, liabilities, and net assets.

Highlighted filing

2015

Assets$7,911

Liabilities$31,097

Net Assets-$23,186

Open 2015 Filing

Operations Trend

Revenue Growth82nd percentile

Revenue, expenses, and net income across loaded years, with this filing highlighted.

Highlighted filing

2015

Revenue$173,431

Expenses$187,214

Net Income-$13,783

Open 2015 Filing

Jump To

Filing Snapshot

Filing Period: Jan 1, 2015 to Dec 31, 2015
Signed: Sep 26, 2016
Return Version: 2015v2.1
Gross Receipts: $173,431

Mission and Program Overview

Mission

Dedicated to gathering and disseminating knowledge, ideas and workable techniques for smarter growth and community revitalization and other charitable, educational, literary, and scientific purpposes related to improving communities and the practices of officials, professionals, and stakeholders.

Program Services

Description	Grants	Expenses
DEDICATED TO GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS AND WORKABLE TECHNIQUES FOR SMARTER GROWTH AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPPOSES RELATED TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES AND THE PRACTICES OF OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONALS, AND STAKEHOLDERS.	-	$187,214

Compensation and Service Providers

Top Officer Pay75th percentile

Employees

Name	Title	Full / Part Time	Base	Other	Total
JESSICA COGAN MILLMAN	Board Member	-	$0	-	-
THOMAS COMITTA	Board Member	-	$0	-	-
DANIEL ORTOLANI	Board Member	-	$0	-	-
ROBERT STEUTEVILLE	Treas	-	$0	-	-

Filing and Contact Details

Filer

Filer Name: Better Cities & Towns Inc
EIN: 46-0857066
Address: 218 UTICA STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850

Signing Officer

Name: Robert Steuteville
Title: Treas
Phone: 6072573087
Signed: 2016-09-26
Discuss with paid preparer: Yes

Preparer

Firm: Sprague & Janowsky Accountants
Address: 121 E SENECA ST, ITHACA, NY 14850-4308
Preparer: Jeffrey J Janowsky Ea
Phone: 6072735322

Supplemental Narrative

Additional Explanations

Form 990-ez, Part I, Line 16

“Expenses supplies 959 telephone 1,229 travel & conferences 4,111 w/comp 1,575 dbl 197 bank charges 666 cr cd fees 1,849 dues & subs 251 email/website 5,111 freelance 320 nys char500 25 nys sales tax 10 outreach stipend 100 reference materials 33 reg plan charr 700 royalties 6,575 sc charrette 27,941 smartcode 16,657 stream collaborative 26,523 visual simulations 2,700 total 97,532”

Form 990-ez, Part II, Line 26

“Nys w/h payable 380 520 steuteville loan 20,000 30,000 cr cds 0 577”

Form 990-ez, Part III

“Dedicated to gathering and disseminating knowledge, ideas and workable techniques for smarter growth and community revitalization and other charitable, educational, literary, and scientific purpposes related to improving communities and the practices of officials, professionals, and stakeholders.”

Form 990-ez, Part III, Line 28

“Dedicated to gathering and disseminating knowledge, ideas and workable techniques for smarter growth and community revitalization and other charitable, educational, literary, and scientific purpposes related to improving communities and the practices of officials, professionals, and stakeholders.”

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This appendix keeps the raw XML leaves available for debugging and edge-case review. The human report above is the primary experience.

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IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/PersonNm	0	ROB STEUTEVILLE
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/PhoneNum	0	6072753087
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/AddressLine1Txt	0	218 UTICA ST
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/AddressLine2Txt	0	218 UTICA ST
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/CityNm	0	ITHACA
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/StateAbbreviationCd	0	NY
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/ZIPCd	0	14850
IRS990EZ/CashSavingsAndInvestmentsGrp/BOYAmt	0	10977
IRS990EZ/CashSavingsAndInvestmentsGrp/EOYAmt	0	7911
IRS990EZ/ChgMadeToOrgnzngDocNotRptInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/ContributionsGiftsGrantsEtcAmt	0	93728
IRS990EZ/DonorAdvisedFndsInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/EngagedInExcessBenefitTransInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/ExcessOrDeficitForYearAmt	0	-13783
IRS990EZ/FeesAndOtherPymtToIndCntrctAmt	0	3529
IRS990EZ/FiledScheduleAInd	0	true
IRS990EZ/ForeignFinancialAccountInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/ForeignOfficeInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/Form1120PolFiledInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/Form990TotalAssetsGrp/BOYAmt	0	10977
IRS990EZ/Form990TotalAssetsGrp/EOYAmt	0	7911
IRS990EZ/GrossReceiptsAmt	0	173431
IRS990EZ/InfoInScheduleOPartIIIInd	0	X
IRS990EZ/InfoInScheduleOPartIIInd	0	X
IRS990EZ/InfoInScheduleOPartIInd	0	X
IRS990EZ/LobbyingActivitiesInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/MadeLoansToFromOfficersInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/MethodOfAccountingAccrualInd	0	X
IRS990EZ/NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt	0	-9403
IRS990EZ/NetAssetsOrFundBalancesEOYAmt	0	-23186
IRS990EZ/NetAssetsOrFundBalancesGrp/BOYAmt	0	-9403
IRS990EZ/NetAssetsOrFundBalancesGrp/EOYAmt	0	-23186
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/AverageHrsPerWkDevotedToPosRt	0	000.00
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/AverageHrsPerWkDevotedToPosRt	1	000.00
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/AverageHrsPerWkDevotedToPosRt	2	000.00
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/AverageHrsPerWkDevotedToPosRt	3	000.00
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/CompensationAmt	0	0
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/CompensationAmt	1	0
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/CompensationAmt	2	0
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/CompensationAmt	3	0
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm	0	JESSICA COGAN MILLMAN
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm	1	THOMAS COMITTA
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm	2	DANIEL ORTOLANI
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm	3	ROBERT STEUTEVILLE
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt	0	BOARD MEMBER
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt	1	BOARD MEMBER
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt	2	BOARD MEMBER
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt	3	TREAS
IRS990EZ/OperateHospitalInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/Organization501c3Ind	0	X
IRS990EZ/OrganizationDissolvedEtcInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/OrganizationHadUBIInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/OtherExpensesTotalAmt	0	97532
IRS990EZ/PartVIHghstPdCntrctProfSrvcTxt	0	NONE
IRS990EZ/PartVIOfCompOfHghstPdEmplTxt	0	NONE
IRS990EZ/PoliticalCampaignActyInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/PrimaryExemptPurposeTxt	0	DEDICATED TO GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS AND WORKABLE TECHNIQUES FOR SMARTER GROWTH AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPPOSES RELATED TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES AND THE PRACTICES OF OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONALS, AND STAKEHOLDERS.
IRS990EZ/PrintingPublicationsPostageAmt	0	7830
IRS990EZ/ProgramServiceRevenueAmt	0	79703
IRS990EZ/ProgramSrvcAccomplishmentGrp/DescriptionProgramSrvcAccomTxt	0	DEDICATED TO GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS AND WORKABLE TECHNIQUES FOR SMARTER GROWTH AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPPOSES RELATED TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES AND THE PRACTICES OF OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONALS, AND STAKEHOLDERS.
IRS990EZ/ProgramSrvcAccomplishmentGrp/ProgramServiceExpensesAmt	0	187214
IRS990EZ/ProhibitedTaxShelterTransInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/RelatedOrganizationCtrlEntInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/SalariesOtherCompEmplBnftAmt	0	78323
IRS990EZ/ScheduleBNotRequiredInd	0	X
IRS990EZ/SchoolOperatingInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/SubjectToProxyTaxInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/SumOfTotalLiabilitiesGrp/BOYAmt	0	20380
IRS990EZ/SumOfTotalLiabilitiesGrp/EOYAmt	0	31097
IRS990EZ/TanningServicesProvidedInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/TotalExpensesAmt	0	187214
IRS990EZ/TotalProgramServiceExpensesAmt	0	187214
IRS990EZ/TotalRevenueAmt	0	173431
IRS990EZ/TransactionWithControlEntInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/TrnsfrExmptNonChrtblRltdOrgInd	0	false
IRS990EZ/TypeOfOrganizationCorpInd	0	X
IRS990EZ/WebsiteAddressTxt	0	N/A
IRS990ScheduleA/AmountsRcvdDsqlfyPersonGrp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt	0	1049
IRS990ScheduleA/AmountsRcvdDsqlfyPersonGrp/TotalAmt	0	1049
IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContrisRcvd509Grp/CurrentTaxYearAmt	0	93728
IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContrisRcvd509Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt	0	31916
IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContrisRcvd509Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt	0	1050
IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContrisRcvd509Grp/TotalAmt	0	126694
IRS990ScheduleA/GrossReceiptsAdmissionsGrp/CurrentTaxYearAmt	0	79703
IRS990ScheduleA/GrossReceiptsAdmissionsGrp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt	0	94068
IRS990ScheduleA/GrossReceiptsAdmissionsGrp/TotalAmt	0	173771
IRS990ScheduleA/InvestmentIncomeCYPct	0	0.00000
IRS990ScheduleA/InvestmentIncomePYPct	0	0.00000
IRS990ScheduleA/PubliclySupportedOrg509a2Ind	0	X
IRS990ScheduleA/PublicSupportCY509Pct	0	0.99650
IRS990ScheduleA/PublicSupportPY509Pct	0	0.99170
IRS990ScheduleA/PublicSupportTotal509Amt	0	299416
IRS990ScheduleA/SubstAndDsqlfyPrsnsTotGrp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt	0	1049
IRS990ScheduleA/SubstAndDsqlfyPrsnsTotGrp/TotalAmt	0	1049
IRS990ScheduleA/ThirtyThrPctSuprtTestsCY509Ind	0	X
IRS990ScheduleA/Total509Grp/CurrentTaxYearAmt	0	173431
IRS990ScheduleA/Total509Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt	0	125984
IRS990ScheduleA/Total509Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt	0	1050
IRS990ScheduleA/Total509Grp/TotalAmt	0	300465
IRS990ScheduleA/TotalSupportCalendarYearGrp/CurrentTaxYearAmt	0	173431
IRS990ScheduleA/TotalSupportCalendarYearGrp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt	0	125984
IRS990ScheduleA/TotalSupportCalendarYearGrp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt	0	1050
IRS990ScheduleA/TotalSupportCalendarYearGrp/TotalAmt	0	300465
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt	0	EXPENSES SUPPLIES 959 TELEPHONE 1,229 TRAVEL & CONFERENCES 4,111 W/COMP 1,575 DBL 197 BANK CHARGES 666 CR CD FEES 1,849 DUES & SUBS 251 EMAIL/WEBSITE 5,111 FREELANCE 320 NYS CHAR500 25 NYS SALES TAX 10 OUTREACH STIPEND 100 REFERENCE MATERIALS 33 REG PLAN CHARR 700 ROYALTIES 6,575 SC CHARRETTE 27,941 SMARTCODE 16,657 STREAM COLLABORATIVE 26,523 VISUAL SIMULATIONS 2,700 TOTAL 97,532
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt	1	NYS W/H PAYABLE 380 520 STEUTEVILLE LOAN 20,000 30,000 CR CDS 0 577
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt	2	DEDICATED TO GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS AND WORKABLE TECHNIQUES FOR SMARTER GROWTH AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPPOSES RELATED TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES AND THE PRACTICES OF OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONALS, AND STAKEHOLDERS.
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt	3	DEDICATED TO GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS AND WORKABLE TECHNIQUES FOR SMARTER GROWTH AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPPOSES RELATED TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES AND THE PRACTICES OF OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONALS, AND STAKEHOLDERS.
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/FormAndLineReferenceDesc	0	FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 16
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/FormAndLineReferenceDesc	1	FORM 990-EZ, PART II, LINE 26
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/FormAndLineReferenceDesc	2	FORM 990-EZ, PART III
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/FormAndLineReferenceDesc	3	FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 28
ReturnHeader/BuildTS	0	2017-02-10 21:41:12Z
ReturnHeader/BusinessOfficerGrp/DiscussWithPaidPreparerInd	0	true
ReturnHeader/BusinessOfficerGrp/PersonNm	0	ROBERT STEUTEVILLE
ReturnHeader/BusinessOfficerGrp/PersonTitleTxt	0	TREAS
ReturnHeader/BusinessOfficerGrp/PhoneNum	0	6072573087
ReturnHeader/BusinessOfficerGrp/SignatureDt	0	2016-09-26
ReturnHeader/Filer/BusinessName/BusinessNameLine1Txt	0	BETTER CITIES & TOWNS INC
ReturnHeader/Filer/BusinessNameControlTxt	0	BETT
ReturnHeader/Filer/EIN	0	460857066
ReturnHeader/Filer/USAddress/AddressLine1Txt	0	218 UTICA STREET
ReturnHeader/Filer/USAddress/CityNm	0	ITHACA
ReturnHeader/Filer/USAddress/StateAbbreviationCd	0	NY
ReturnHeader/Filer/USAddress/ZIPCd	0	14850
ReturnHeader/PreparerFirmGrp/PreparerFirmEIN	0	161428840
ReturnHeader/PreparerFirmGrp/PreparerFirmName/BusinessNameLine1Txt	0	SPRAGUE & JANOWSKY ACCOUNTANTS
ReturnHeader/PreparerFirmGrp/PreparerUSAddress/AddressLine1Txt	0	121 E SENECA ST
ReturnHeader/PreparerFirmGrp/PreparerUSAddress/CityNm	0	ITHACA
ReturnHeader/PreparerFirmGrp/PreparerUSAddress/StateAbbreviationCd	0	NY
ReturnHeader/PreparerFirmGrp/PreparerUSAddress/ZIPCd	0	148504308
ReturnHeader/PreparerPersonGrp/PhoneNum	0	6072735322
ReturnHeader/PreparerPersonGrp/PreparationDt	0	2016-09-26
ReturnHeader/PreparerPersonGrp/PreparerPersonNm	0	JEFFREY J JANOWSKY EA
ReturnHeader/ReturnTs	0	2016-09-26T14:22:36-05:00
ReturnHeader/ReturnTypeCd	0	990EZ
ReturnHeader/TaxPeriodBeginDt	0	2015-01-01
ReturnHeader/TaxPeriodEndDt	0	2015-12-31
ReturnHeader/TaxYr	0	2015

Document Assets

No mirrored PDF or thumbnail assets are attached yet.

Filings

Displayed year

2015 • Form 990EZDetailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.

Open filing

Assets: $7,911
Liabilities: $31,097
Net assets: -$23,186
Revenue: $173,431
Expenses: $187,214
Net income: -$13,783

	Balance Sheet			Operations
Year	Assets	Liabilities	Net Assets	Revenue	Expenses	Net Income
2022Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.00		$0.00		$0.00
2021Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.01	$0.11	$0.10		$0.00
2020Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.01	$0.11	$0.10		$0.00
2019Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.02	$0.11	$0.09	$0.13	$0.07	$0.06
2018Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.00	$0.16	$0.16	$0.00	$0.04	$0.04
2017Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.01	$0.17	$0.16	$0.77	$0.85	$0.08
2016Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.09	$0.17	$0.08	$1.57	$1.42	$0.16
2015Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.08	$0.31	$0.23	$1.73	$1.87	$0.14
2014Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.11	$0.20	$0.09	$1.26	$1.36	$0.10
2013Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.	$0.01	$0.00	$0.01	$0.01	$0.00	$0.01