Covenant House New Orleans

What it reported doing in 2024

Short-term housing and crisis care (formerly shelter and crisis care)the organization welcomes all young people facing homelessness with unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support, and our shelter doors are always open, 24/7. Their unmet needs for nutritious food, clothing, shelter, safety, medical care, and mental health care require immediate attention. Covenant house provides high-quality services and programs to meet those needs, stabilize a young person's situation, and help them begin to consider their longer-term goals for education, employment, and career planning. We are expertly equipped to respond to the unique needs of young survivors of human trafficking, those who identify as lgbtq, and those who are pregnant or parenting. Of the thousands of young people who find safety and sanctuary at covenant house, our research indicates that approximately one in five are survivors of human trafficking. Young people experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to traffickers, who prey on their need for love, support, a safe place to sleep, and food to create a trauma bond with them. The organization has pioneered intake screening tools to quickly reveal a history of trafficking that young people, otherwise, may find difficult to name. We meet trafficking survivors' immediate needs for nutritious food, clothing, shelter, safety, and medical care. And we recognize their unique needs for extra levels of protection, including safe spaces at our site and/or transporting them to safe houses around the country. In fy25 a total of 565 unaccompanied youth were served with short-term housing needs with an average daily census of 125 youth. The young families program served a total of 126 during fy25.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.2%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 79.8%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.81 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • 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: -6.3%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.26; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.11; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.2%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings