Esperanza United

What it reported doing in 2024

The family advocacy team provides direct support for latin@s and their families, in the seven-county metropolitan area of the twin cities, Minnesota, who are experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. Esperanza united provides a variety of options to best meet our families' needs including: el refugio (emergency shelter), a bilingual crisis line, transitional housing support, assisting with referrals to other resources and mobile advocacy. Through mobile advocacy, our latin@ family advocates meet survivors wherever they feel safe, to help them create safety plans, navigate legal systems, and accompany them to school, court, or medical appointments. During this last year, our crisis line received over 600 calls related to domestic violence. El refugio provided safe housing for 247 survivors and their children, 220 individuals received emergency and financial assistance, 2007 instances of interpreter services were delivered, and 654 instances of transportation services were provided. Our family advocacy team also served 278 youth. We also continue to deepen our advocacy for survivors and provided 563 cases of legal advocacy which included 137 orders for protection. We have strengthened our outreach with community centered events such as the feria latina expo, where over 40 vendors plus a covid-19 and flu vaccine clinic showcased resources and support for survivors and their families, and hosted our third annual dia de los muertos event, where we honored and remembered the lives lost due to violence.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.1%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 83.2%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $57.28 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • 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; 41st 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: 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.3%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.79; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.5%; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 14.1% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.4% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 20.9% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings