Families Rising

What it reported doing in 2025

See schedule o.families rising Minnesota -families rising Minnesota continued to provide steady, relationship-based support to adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers across the state in 2025. This year marked a period of both growth and stabilization, as we strengthened our staffing structure, expanded regional reach, and deepened the consistency of our programming. With the addition of two new team members serving northern and southern Minnesota, we increased our ability to connect with families across geographic regions and respond more directly to local needs. This expansion allowed us to offer more in-person opportunities while maintaining strong virtual access points for caregivers statewide.throughout the year, families rising Minnesota facilitated a mix of in-person and virtual support groups, including general caregiver groups, kinship-focused spaces, and transracial families support groups with a youth component. These groups remained a cornerstone of our work, providing caregivers with both practical strategies and meaningful connections. Caregivers consistently shared reflections such as, "i am not alone, and "met peers who are experiencing similar challenges," reinforcing the importance of peer-based support. Participation remained strong despite natural fluctuations related to seasonal travel, school schedules, and family demands, demonstrating the ongoing need for flexible and accessible programming.in-person gatherings and retreats continued to be a highlight of the year. Our caregiver retreat provided a space for participants to step away from daily demands, build relationships, and engage in learning alongside others who share similar experiences. Caregivers described these opportunities as "a much needed time to decompress, learn, and relax, and "spectacular," emphasizing the impact of creating intentional space for both connection and reflection. These events reinforced that belonging and community are essential components of caregiver support.families rising Minnesota also continued to expand its training and resource offerings. With increased capacity in education and training, we further developed on-demand learning opportunities, allowing caregivers to access content at times that fit their schedules. In addition, we have begun aligning our training efforts with the national training manager to ensure content is grounded in evidence-based practices while also maintaining opportunities for real-time connection and discussion. This balance allows us to offer both accessible learning and meaningful engagement for caregivers.we also completed a program evaluation this year and are using the data to guide and refine our work intentionally. Insights from the evaluation are informing program design, strengthening areas of impact, and ensuring our services continue to meet the evolving needs of families.in addition to emotional and educational support, families rising Minnesota remained responsive to families' practical needs. Through targeted outreach and resource sharing, caregivers received support related to financial strain, basic needs, and access to community resources. Feedback highlighted the importance of this support, particularly for families navigating high levels of stress and responsibility.this year also marked meaningful progress in community collaboration. We are actively building partnerships with local agencies and organizations. We are proud to have established ongoing relationships with three counties to provide monthly training opportunities for foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers. These partnerships allow us to reach caregivers in more consistent and meaningful ways, supporting their growth and strengthening their capacity throughout their parenting journey.this year included periods of transition and challenge. Staffing changes and a temporary funding delay required the team to operate with flexibility while maintaining core services. We are grateful to share that our funding has

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 93.6%; rating input score 94
• Program expense ratio: 95.7%; rating input score 96
• Fundraising efficiency: $478.35 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • 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; 75th 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: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • 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: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.2%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.25; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.3%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.1% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.2% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings