Accelerate 500 Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

1. Beyond 5- the beyond 5 campaign is designed to promote and support new majority businesses to increase the likelihood of business success beyond the typical failure rate of 5 years. The campaign is comprised of three strategies: i. National social media campaign in an effort to change the negative narrative around founders for color, we have initiated a social media campaign to promote new majority founders who have made it beyond 5. Our goal is to leverage our social media, and that of our partners, to promote the success stories of new majority entrepreneurs who have been running businesses beyond 5 years. We welcome any self-nominations or recommendations for entrepreneurs to promote in the campaign; email us at [email protected]. Survivability research reportthere is a dearth of primary research and in-depth analysis on what it takes a business to survive beyond 5 years. Our report will collect data from over 1,000 candidates and seek to provide insight on key inputs for surviving beyond 5 years. We will provide case studies, as well as outlines areas of opportunity for ecosystem builders, policy makers, investors, and the like to help advance these businesses beyond the "valleys of death".2. Pipeline program - the pipeline program was created to equip founders with the processes, mindsets and guidance to address these challenges and rapidly accelerate towards scale. The aim of the pipeline program is to work with business leaders to identify business goals and then develop an actionable plan to not only to help them achieve their goals, but to help their business become sustainable. By helping entrepreneurs build better businesses, pipeline enables companies to attract the talent, capital and connections needed forlast growth and development. The pipeline program is focused on helping entrepreneurs grow a successful business. The program's focus is beyond learning how to pitch and present. Instead, time is intentionally spent on supporting businesses on a path to maturity. Entrepreneurs completing the program will have a more investment-ready business and truly understand why and how to deploy future financings.3. Herimpact - herimpact is designed to help female social entrepreneurs scale their enterprises in order to increase their impact and long-term sustainability. The program was initiated in the fall of 2018. The initiative is comprised of an entrepreneurship summit, which is designed to build community and increase the capacity of female social entrepreneurs through advice from experts, online tools and networking. The initiative also includes a pitch competition, designed to invest in early and growth stage companies in the region.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 55.6%; rating input score 56
• Program expense ratio: 32%; rating input score 32
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.02 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 0%; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -71.9%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.25; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.8%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.2% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.2% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.5% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings