Cefs Economic Opportunity Corporation

What it reported doing in 2024

Outreach programs: community services block grant: cefs economic opportunity corporation provides outreach and referral services through field offices across its seven-county service area. Staff members at these local offices are trained in basic information and referrals to assist with social service needs. They offer intensive case management services to individuals and families and often serve as the first point of contact for assistance. Major programs offered directly through the offices include liheap, weatherization, tax assistance, emergency food and shelter, budgeting, literacy, senior services, and housing counseling. If outreach staff cannot provide direct assistance, referrals are made to other programs and providers. The community services block grant program is funded by the Illinois department of commerce and economic opportunity.adult volunteer literacy: many adults in Illinois have limited incomes due to limited skills in reading, writing, math, or english proficiency. The cefs learning center provides adult literacy services that help participants more fully engage in their family, work, and community roles. The center administers adult literacy, ged preparation, and english as a second language programs, offering basic adult literacy instruction to improve reading, writing, math, and english proficiency for qualifying participants. Certified volunteers conduct one-on-one tutoring sessions tailored to each learner's needs. Volunteers receive 15 hours of training through the cefs literacy coordinator and the secretary of state. These services are provided free of charge and are funded through the community services block grant program and the secretary of state/Illinois state library literacy office.housing counseling: the cefs housing counseling program assists residents in meeting their housing needs and addressing housing issues with priority given to low- and moderate-income households. Cefs economic opportunity corporation is a certified housing counseling agency through the u.s. Department of housing and urban development (hud). Outreach offices employ professional staff who are hud-certified counselors and have received certifications through neighborworks america. Counselors provide in-depth housing counseling in areas such as pre-purchase, pre-rental, mortgage default, rental delinquency, post-occupancy, energy conservation, housing consumer education, displacement, relocation, and referrals. Funding is provided by the department of housing and urban development through housing action Illinois.hud rapid re-housing program: the rapid re-housing program helps individuals living on the street, in places not meant for human habitation, or in emergency shelters transition into permanent housing. Supportive services, including budgeting, benefit enrollment, referrals, and case management, are provided. Participants must meet with case managers to continue receiving rental assistance, but no other restrictions apply. The program's goal is to reduce the time spent in homeless, assist participants in developing the skills needed to remain housed, and reduce the likelihood of returning to homelessness. Services are available throughout cefs economic opportunity corporation's service area and are funded by the department of housing and urban development. The rapid re-housing program is a competitive grant through the south-central Illinois continuum of care.rental housing support program: the rental housing support program (rhsp) promotes permanent housing by funding rent subsidies for extremely and severely low-income households. The program provides rental assistance but does not cover costs such as security deposits or emergency rental assistance. The Illinois housing development authority contracts with local community action agencies, including cefs, to manage and operate the program within the service area. Cefs collaborates with local landlords to provide units and accepts applications from eligible low-i

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 92.7%; rating input score 93
• Program expense ratio: 94.6%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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; 66th 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: 2%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.44; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.33; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.2%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.2% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings