Southeastern Vermont Community Action Inc

What it reported doing in 2023

Vermont has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country, and in southeastern Vermont, many homes are drafty, inefficient, and expensive to heat. For low- and moderate-income families, this means high energy bills, uncomfortable winters, and housing that can quickly become unsafe or unaffordable.sevca's weatherization and emergency home repair program addresses these challenges head-on, improving home energy efficiency, comfort, and safety--while also strengthening Vermont's housing infrastructure and local economy.what we do: assess and weatherize homes to reduce energy loss and lower utility costs; repair or replace inefficient heating systems; complete essential home repairs for health and safety reasons and to make weatherization possible (e.g., roofing, ventilation, insulations); offer personalized energy coaching, including appliance upgrades and conservation education; suport local jobs through subcontracting with area businesses.2024 impact: 267 homes weatherized or repaired, $706,317 invested in local subcontractors, 100 heating systems fixed or replaced, 174 energy coaching sessions delivered.this work goes beyond energy savings. It's about preserving the homes we have, reducing emissions, and ensuring vermonters can live in safe, warms, and affordable spaces. At a time when housing is scarce and costly to build, sevca's weatherization program is a strategic investment in both people and place.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 84.9%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 85.7%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.6%; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.9%; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.41; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.35; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.1%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 14.8% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.6% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings