Hope Ignites

What it reported doing in 2024

Programming (12 U.S. Affiliates). Hope Ignites helps young people leverage their strengths and reach their potential through year-round, out-of-school time programming that addresses academic achievement, physical and mental health, career launch, and service to the community. This long-term relationship spans from middle school to college and career launch. We also provide a safe, stable environment for those who benefit from the full-time structure and necessities provided by our residential programs. We connect our scholars to mentors, internships, and other academic and professional development support during college, along with a lifelong community of alumni who support their continued success. Hope Ignites Network Headquarters supports our 12 U.S. and 2 Latin American affiliates by facilitating joint programming for young people, providing scholarship funding for collegians, and offering comprehensive services across strategy, program design, knowledge building, training, performance management, accounting, technology, and human resources. Our scholars face real challenges-poverty, underperforming schools, neighborhood violence-but they also bring grit, resilience, and big dreams. Despite the obstacles, 100% of our scholars graduate high school, and 64% of our collegians earn a bachelor's degree within six years (triple the national average for low-income first-generation students as noted by the Pell Institute)

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77.8%; rating input score 78
• Program expense ratio: 67.2%; rating input score 67
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.8 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 44th 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 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -12.4%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.23; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.3% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.1% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings