Community Life Collaborative

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
843965227
IRS 990 coverage
2020–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Chagrin Falls, OH, USA
Phone
4407081961
Rating
73
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Environmental Education and Outdoor Survival Programs

Reported finances

Revenue
$298,834
Expenses
$343,305
Assets
$257,785
Liabilities
$23,171

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • ANN LENTZ (PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • DESTINEE BURSE (EXECUTIVE DI): $80,000 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The clc is organized and operated for charitable, educational and scientific purposes. More specifically, it is dedicated to furthering efforts in support of social justice and environmental sustainability, while promoting collaborations and partnerships with like-minded organizations. The clc has two primary goals: establish a collaborative of nonprofits working together to create social and environmental change and promote sustainable living practices and climate change action across the northeast Ohio region in an effort to connect the community and protect the environment. Community life collaborative (clc) mission statement: to engage communities in social and environmental justice by empowering untapped relationships, collaborations and understandings across boundaries.

What it reported doing in 2024

2024 programming 1.climate fresk: climate fresk is a gamified workshop about how everything is connected in the climate crisis. The workshop empowered participants with an understanding and language to be able to speak to nuanced issues, and empowered them to build a foundation to move a community towards action. Led by megan yousef, an aptd-certified facilitator with a background rooted in change management. 2.our nature (part 1): getting our hands dirty: participants got their hands dirty in the urban gardens of east cleveland and worked side-by-side with volunteers working at the first saturday volunteer cleanup. This is the first of the two-part workshop with sara continenza and beth vild tackling food injustice and how we, as a community, can advance health equity. 3.our nature (part 2): the second part of the series highlighted two thriving vacant-to-vibrant models for mobilizing local food & garden ambassadors for neighborhood resilience in cleveland and akron neighborhoods. Presented by sara continenza and beth vild, this event wraps up our nature forum series. 4.3rd annual gala, dancing on dew drops: our 3rd annual garden gala celebrated with a sold out crowd featuring scrumptious food, high energy, lucky draw raffle, dessert dash, a silent auction, a wine pull, live music and dancing. Thank you to all who contributed as participants, volunteers, donors, bidders, and more 5.an evening with kristin ohlson, is nature more cooperative than we think: we had an inspiring evening with acclaimed author kristin ohlson, who shared insights from her book sweet in tooth and claw. Attendees enjoyed a unique opportunity to hear about the surprising and beautiful connections in nature, all within an intimate setting. 6.movie screening, god and country: together with sjam and racial equity buddies, we hosted a thought-provoking screening of god & country, a film that explores the intersection of faith & patriotism while examining the implications of christian nationalism. Attendees engaged in facilitated conversations after the screening, deepening their understanding of how these issues affect both our nation and faith communities. 7.sprout and share series: this month's sprout & share brought together gardeners and advocates to exchange resources and uplift sustainable practices in underserved communities. Through shared knowledge and collaboration, we took another step toward advancing environmental justice. 8.oak-y dokie 5k and able acorn walk: the annual oak-y dokie 5k & able acorn walk was a success participants of all ages and abilities came together to run, walk, and celebrate inclusion in the great outdoors. Thank you to everyone who joined us-your support helps advance access to nature for all.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of total spending goes to programs and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 57
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 84
  • Sustainability: 23
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 65.4%; rating input score 65
  • Program expense ratio: 56.1%; rating input score 56
  • Fundraising efficiency: $3.82 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • 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: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • 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: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -14.9%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.75; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 23.3%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 35% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.9% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 7.5% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 65.4% of revenue deployed · 56.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $192K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $80K · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 26 of 26 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 5 filing years from 2020 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 56/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 17/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 3 of 8 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 18/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 33/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 16/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 27/100.