Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund Dba the Gro Fund

What it reported doing in 2024

Freedom futures: cash for today, capital for tomorrow1. Policy learning: the organization will share the findings and results of freedom futures: cash for today, capital for tomorrow, an accelerated baby bonds pilot program, with various agencies to educate them on income stability and wealth-building programs focused on economically marginalized youth and young adults. The goal of these programs will be generating evidence on early wealth building and education. The organization may write white papers or do limited advocacy for strategies to address wealth disparities such as a state baby bonds program. The organization conducts limited lobbying activities and speaks with various political figures from time to time. The organization's main focus will be to educate Georgia-based organizations and other entities who are interested in learning more about the baby bonds pilot program and its results, as well as the theory and policy behind direct youth wealth building strategies. This work will be done by organization staff and volunteers. 2. Direct service provision for low-income youth and young adults: the freedom futures: cash for today, capital for tomorrow program will provide 50 low-income young adults in atlanta with a $500/month income support for four years, financial education, and a large lump sum of approximately $40,000 for wealth building purposes such as buying a home, starting a business or enrolling in higher education. The goal of the pilot is to support the young people enrolled and to generate insight on how these interventions improve youth and young peoples financial stability and wealth position.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 97.9%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: $82.56 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• 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 9 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • 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: -154.1%; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.06; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.47; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.3%; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 127.6% per year; rating input score 100; 99th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 53.3% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings