Smith Students' Aid Society Inc

Overview

Mission

The mission of the Smith Students Aid Society the Society is to provide assistance to Smith College students in the form of grants and emergency funds in order to enhance the quality of the students educational experience. The Society focuses especially on needs not met by traditional financial aid from Smith College.

What it reported doing in 2024

The Society provides small individual grants to Smith College students for financial assistance that is not met through traditional financial aid from Smith College. The Society provided grants for the following purposes during the reporting period Fine Art Supplies for students in a qualifying Studio Arts Course Credit Bearing Programs not covered by financial aid Beyond Smith for seniors needing assistance for job search, interview travel clothing, graduate professional school applications, etc. Emergency medical/dental, housing, food, child care, and winter clothes Summer Study with preference for students with credit shortage Special Opportunities for enrichment not covered by financial aid Textbooks and Computer Support.

Operating model

Revenue model
Investment-supported. 94% of the money available for current operations came from recurring investment income.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 100% of its reported program spending out as grants.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
046052751
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Northampton, MA, USA
Phone
4135852200
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. No material rating questions were generated from the available inputs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 63
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 86
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 64.5%; rating input score 65
  • Program expense ratio: 82.2%; rating input score 82
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 26.2%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 18.85; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.6% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 64.5% of revenue deployed · 82.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 12 of 12 board members independent · 7 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $304K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 12 people listed
  • Consistency: 21 of 21 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 10 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

12 people listed

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.