Drug Free Clubs of America

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
205197881
IRS 990 coverage
2015–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2014, Form 990-N 2009
Location
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Phone
5137724465
Rating
85
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Human Services N.E.C.

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$497,142
Expenses
$583,567
Assets
$617,133
Liabilities
$22,582

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

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • ANGIE FERGUSON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • ANGIE FERGUSON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $117,762 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

To protect our nation's youth from the horrors of drug abuse, using highly effective tactics to foster their bright futures.

What it reported doing in 2024

Drug free clubs of america (dfca) operates school-based prevention programs that establish student-led clubs designed to prevent youth substance use. The program integrates voluntary confidential drug testing, positive reinforcement incentives, student leadership, parent engagement, and prevention education to support healthy decision-making among youth.clients served:- over 6,000 students annually - approximately 46 school chapters across Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and California dfca develops youth leadership and reinforces positive behavior through student-led club structures and incentive-based engagement. Students serve as club officers and ambassadors, promoting drug-free lifestyles and shaping peer culture within their schools.clients served:- integrated within the 6,000+ student participants - leadership opportunities available across all chapters dfca provides ongoing prevention education and parent engagement resources designed to increase awareness of substance use risks and strengthen protective factors in youth. Educational components include structured programming and communication tools that connect students, parents, and schools.clients served:- 6,000+ student participants - indirect reach to families and school communities

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 67% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
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.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 86
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 84
  • Sustainability: 26
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 91.3%; rating input score 91
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

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: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -17.4%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.06; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 20.2%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 7.5% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 14% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 91.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $533K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $118K · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 25 of 25 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 9 filing years from 2015 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 — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 16/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 42/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 19/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 35/100.