Accola

What it reported doing in 2024

Learning in style school june 2025 board update2024-25 school year highlightsstaffing. Lis began the year with 3 new teachers and offered sequenced english classes from the pre-lit to advanced levels once again. We also added an office manager, a digital literacy coordinator, and (temporarily) a social worker. Rehiring the social worker position waschallenging. In the meantime, supervised students from the university of st. Thomas have provided case management and social work services on site and at ust this year.lis students. In 2024-25, lis students represented 40 countries of origin and 25 first languages. (almost 80% of students cite either somali or spanish as their first language.) for the first time in many years, lis has waiting lists for several class times at several levels.as of june 1: in 24-25, lis had 230 student participants (12+ hours), 20% more than the previous year (187).lis saw a 24% yty increase in student contact hours: (from 12,930 to 17,047 for recording year ending april 30, 2025).level gain increases: 45% of eligible students made at least one level gain (vs. 38% in 23- 24).volunteers. The lis volunteer cohort grew to 15 from 11 and includes volunteers from the ignatian volunteer corps and lutheran social services foster grandparent program. A volunteer led our weekly citizenship class and specially trained volunteers provided substitute teaching this year. In addition, cretin derham hall high school students returned to regularly volunteer again; and de la salle students began volunteering for the first time.childcare program. Under the supervision of a new childcare coordinator, the childcareprogram offered organized, welcoming, safe, and fun attention to young children so that parents could attend english classes. 27 parents of 31 children used this free program.digital literacy program. A digital literacy coordinator joined the lis staff in november.first year initiatives included identifying resources and materials to launch a program specific to the lis student population. New activities include orientations and assessments for students; partnering with teachers to integrate digital literacy skills into english classes; and preparing a structured program to begin in october 2025.student support. Our students have many needs outside of school, and lis strives to anticipate and respond to them. This year's supports for students included: a first-ever onsite vaccine/mobile health clinic provided by the odam clinic and mdh. One warm coat, cdh and members of the minnekahda club donated coats and cold weather gear; over 100 coats were distributed to lis students and families.the Minnesota financial empowerment initiative (mnfei) piloted a program to offer monthly financial capability classes to lis students.the interprofessional center for counseling and legal advice (ipc) program from the university of st. Thomas brought supervised social work students on site. Social work students and their supervisor provided services to lis students and connected them with resources. Several students received ongoing services at the ust campus.emergency funds were used to support students in need, including following the loss of other previously committed support (e.g., resettlement agencies and other organizations impacted by funding and staffing cuts under the new administration).know your rights trainings were provided to all staff and students, led by lis teacher eva moline.community events. Last fall, lis held an open house and 30th anniversary celebration, highlighted by remarks from lis founder agnes foley, csj, and three lis students. In february, we came together as a community for our annual global potlucks and student raffles. Spring events included field trips to the mn state capitol and the minneapolis institute of art. And children from the childcare program prepared a dance and gave a mini-spring performance.building projects. Lighting was retrofitted building-wide, the parking lot was rebuilt, bric

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80.6%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 55.1%; rating input score 55
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.3 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd 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: 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: -24.1%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 9.24; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.6%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -29% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -167.7% per year; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings