Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence

What it reported doing in 2024

See schedule o24-hour crisis, information & refferal hotline: choices receives thousands of calls each year from people living in fear from the threat of domestic violence. To meet this incredible demand, choices provides a crisis, information, and referral hotline that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This resource is the only one of its kind in central Ohio and is available to anyone in need of domestic violence information or assistance. Hotline staff are trained to listen, ask questions, discuss alternatives, and ultimately refer callers to specific programs and services based on their individual needs.temporary shelter: the fact that choices offers temporary shelter is well known, but the location is kept confidential for safety purposes. A dedicated staff has guaranteed its operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since 1977, making it the longest-running domestic violence shelter in central Ohio. Counseling: choices offers problem-solving counseling, support, resources and referrals to those victims and survivors of domestic violence who do not require residential services. Day or night, services ranging from individual sessions to educational groups are available at several locations throughout the community. All services are provided by licensed social workers with graduate-level credentials. Treatment goals are developed cooperatively and focus on issues of self-esteem and empowerment, as well as improving decision-making skills. Personal, physical and emotional safety plans are explored and defined.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 89.8%; rating input score 90
• Fundraising efficiency: $25.85 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 66; 66th 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: Limited
• 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: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -32.9%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.97; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.45; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.4%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.1% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.2% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings