First In Families of North Carolina

What it reported doing in 2024

All the FIF local Chapters help people with developmental and other disabilities to create the lives they aspire to now and for the future. Families or individuals apply for assistance to meet a short-term or long-term goal or obtain needed goods or services. Most of those assisted do not receive formal services; 1,503 families [or 81%] this year did not get help through the Medicaid waiver. In FY 25 the total Value of Direct Support to families through all thirteen local FIF chapters was $1,086,173, comprised of $600,449 in state funding, $68,562 from private businesses (discounts and donations), $80,871 from grassroots fundraisers by Chapter Leadership Teams, $178,070 from local grants, and $158,221 worth of donated goods provided to families.Families are offered opportunities to give back to other families at the time they apply for assistance or later on; reciprocity by families served ("gave back") for FY 25 was: 34 families donated goods; 102 families donated time, and 2 families donated money. FIF partners with the business community and other families previously served, to meet the need of the applicant at the lowest possible cost. Through such assistance, the need is met, and public awareness is developed as well. Each Chapter is governed by a grassroots local Chapter Leadership Team comprised of people with disabilities, their family members, and invested community members. Requests fulfilled fall into and are measured within 37 categories of support, for example, Adaptive Equipment and Parts, Sensory Support, Camp, or Assistive Technology. Requests are met through the matching of public funding with additional support from private local businesses, foundations, or private citizens. The Central Carolina, Cumberland, Johnston, Mecklenburg, and Wake chapters met 1,267 requests from 796 families last year, including 351 of whom were completely new to FIF (never previously assisted). This is an increase of 16% of met requests.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.3%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 86.8%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $74.05 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1.8%; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.56; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.9%; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.2% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.8% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.9% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings