irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2KPayments to independant experts in various fields ot the Home Improvement Industry to assess wether various Home Improvements Contractors have provided the work up to the standards of the industry in answer to Consumer Complaints of workmanship.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Dispute Mediation and Arbitration
Provides in-house mediation and formal arbitration through affiliation with the Center for Dispute Settlement to resolve consumer-contractor disputes.
Registered Home Improvement Contractor Program
Assigns identification registration numbers to contractors, enabling consumers to verify contractor legitimacy and access BCB-held information on them.
Registered Professional Designation
Grants a prestigious designation to member contractors who meet high standards and abide by a strict Code of Ethics, offering consumers assurance of professionalism and accountability.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Construction Industry Standards and Contractor Support Services 5 activities
- Assigns identification and registration numbers to contractorsAssigns identification registration numbers to member contractors as part of the membership application and assigns tracking numbers to approximately 10,000 non-member contractors in its database to improve consumer protection and accountability.
- Offers member contractor support and benefitsProvides member contractors with ID cards, logo decals, sample contracts, newsletters, business forms, legal contract templates, mediation and arbitration access, and listings in consumer guides and on the BCB website.
- Operates contractor database and complaint resolution systemOperates a database of nearly 10,000 contractors, both member and non-member, and provides complaint processing, mediation, formal arbitration, inspection services, and written reports to validate and resolve consumer complaints about home improvement workmanship. Requires member contractors to respond to complaints and BCB correspondence within set timeframes.
- Provides consumer education and referral resourcesProduces and distributes a free annual Consumer Guide and membership directory, offers a home improvement fact sheet, and maintains an online directory of registered, insured contractor members by trade to help consumers find qualified professionals. Provides guidance on trade practices, materials selection, and how to identify and report fraudulent contractors.
- Provides pre-contract support and inquiry servicesOffers an inquiry service for consumers to check a contractor's reputation before hiring and provides contract review support to senior citizens through representatives who discuss agreements prior to signing. Provides consumer protection guidance, especially during emergencies, to prevent exploitation.
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Construction Industry Advocacy & Standards 1 activity
- Advocates against unethical home improvement practicesAdvocates for the elimination and prevention of unethical practices in the home improvement industry through public education, collaboration with law enforcement, and legal testimony.
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Construction Industry Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Organizes home improvement expos and fairsOrganizes the Remodelrama Home Fair Expo to connect consumers with home improvement professionals and resources.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Conducts contractor evaluations and inspectionsPays independent experts to evaluate whether home improvement contractors have met industry standards in response to consumer complaints and provides unbiased inspection services that result in written reports and recommendations for dispute resolution.
- Refers homeowners to qualified contractorsProvides referrals to experienced roofing contractors for issues like ice damming prevention and responds to homeowner calls during emergencies such as snow season roof leaks.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$108K
Contributions & grants$81K75%
Program service revenue$2K2%
Investment income$9691%
Other revenue$24K
expenses
Total expenses$108K
Program expenses8%
Admin / overhead95%
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$69K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$129K
Cash$127K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3K
Net assets$126K
Liquid reserves14.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +27.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmen Santora | Executive Director | 40 | $57K |
board members · 20
- Ann Marie Cook — Board Member
- Anthony Noto — Board Member
- Anthony Valerio — Board Member
- Dr Senaelle Hawkins — Board Member
- Hardar Kamal — Board Member
- James Betlem — Board Member
- John D'Arpino — Vice President
- John Felice — Board Member
- John Nitti — Board Member
- Joseph Addante — Board Member
- Joseph Wilson — Board Member
- Kevin Hinkley — Board Member
- Larry Licherdell — Secretary
- Luke Giannone — President
- Michael D O'Connell CPA — Treasurer
- Paul Gionta — Board Member
- Shira May — Board Member
- Tim Weckesser — Board Member
- Vincent Barone — Counsel
- Vincent Mastrosimone Jr — Board Member
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Attorney General Government — Partners with the Attorney General's office on consumer protection efforts.
- Brighton Police Partner — Collaborated with BCB certified inspectors to investigate a contractor scam involving over 28 consumers.
- Carmen Santora Partner — Executive Director of the Better Contractors Bureau providing expert guidance on ice damming.
- Center for Dispute Settlement Partner — Collaborates to provide formal arbitration services for contractor-consumer disputes.
- Center for Dispute Settlement Partner — Partner organization providing formal arbitration services for unresolved complaints.
- Center for Dispute Settlement Partner — Provides formal arbitration services for consumer-contractor disputes through affiliation with BCB.
- Center for Dispute Settlement Partner — Provides formal arbitration services through a partnership with the Center for Dispute Settlement.
- City or Town Building Departments Government — Identified as official sources to confirm building code compliance and legitimacy of contractor claims.
- Federal Trade Commission Government — Provides a direct link to the Federal Trade Commission website for federal consumer protection resources.
- Lifespan Partner — Works in collaboration with Lifespan on programs related to homeowner assistance.
- NYS Business Law Government — Requires member contractors' contracts to comply with Article 36A of the NYS Business Law.
- New York State Attorney General's Office Government — Alliance to support consumer protection and enhance organizational credibility.
- New York State Attorney General's Office Government — Provides a direct link to the NYS Attorney General's Office for consumer legal resources.
- New York State Consumer Protection Board Government — Provides a direct link to the NYS Consumer Protection Board website for fraud reporting and prevention tips.
- R. G.& E. Government — Referenced as a proper authority for seniors to verify safety claims made by contractors.
- Urban League Partner — Collaborates with the Urban League on consumer protection and outreach initiatives.
- Urban Leagues of Rochester Partner — Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, President of Urban Leagues of Rochester, serves on the BCB Board of Directors.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Consumer Empowerment Through Education and Verification Toolsmethodology: consumer_education_and_verificationBy educating consumers on red flags, preventive maintenance, and comparative proposal evaluation, and by providing verification tools like registration numbers, we reduce fraud and improve hiring decisions, because informed consumers make safer, more rational choices.
- Consumer Protection via Expert Oversight and Dispute Resolutionmethodology: independent_inspection_and_dispute_resolutionBy providing independent inspections, in-house mediation, and formal arbitration, we resolve contractor-consumer disputes fairly and objectively, because third-party intervention increases trust and incentivizes contractor accountability.
- Industry Self-Regulation Through Verified Membershipmethodology: ethics-based_industry_self-regulationBy requiring contractors to meet strict eligibility criteria—including insurance, legal compliance, business tenure, and adherence to a Code of Ethics—we increase professionalism and consumer trust, because verified accountability reduces risk and deters unethical behavior.