Grateful Crane Ensemble Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Grateful crane has traditionally been of service to nikkei seniors, but in 2024 we expanded to reach college students, children and the community at-large. Buddhist churches of america 125th anniversary show: in 2024, grateful crane debuted a brand new show in celebration of the buddhist chuches of america's 125th anniversary. Featuring a captivating narrative covering 125 years of history and favorite japanese, american and buddhist songs, our "living gratitude" show premiered at the bca's national council meeting in february, 2024 in sacramento. Bishop marvin harada was so moved by our show that he approved a nationwide tour of the show which would start in 2024, and continue into 2025 and 2026 to seven different districts across the country. Guest speaker at two day of remembrance programs: in february 2024, grateful crane's executive director/playwright soji kashiwagi was the featured speaker at two day of remembrance programs at the japanese american national museum on saturday, february 17th, and at the university of California irvine on sunday, february 18th. At both events, attended by approximately 500 people, soji spoke about being a "son of no-no, and addressed a topic previously ignored and avoided within the japanese american community: japanese american protest and resistance during their wwii incarceration. The second event at uci was particularly significant because the audience was largely young nikkei students, who were most likely learning about this topic for the first time. Memories concerts for ja seniors living with memory issues: throughout 2024, members of grateful crane performed our "memories concerts" for nikkei seniors living with alzheimer's or dementia at various nursing homes and memory care facilities throughout southern California. At every show, seniors who could not remember what they had for lunch would start joyfully singing along to every song, and knowing every word. One woman who had stopped speaking all of a sudden was singing. Our concerts not only brought joy to the seniors, but to the staff as well, who saw the person locked inside literally come to life right before their eyes.teaching traditional japanese children songs to nikkei children: in june 2024, we collaborated with kizuna, a youth-focused organization, in teaching nikkei children traditional japanese children's songs at its annual summer camp. By teaching a song like "haru ga kita," to nikkei kids, we were passing on songs and tradition brought to america by our first generation issei ancestors, who taught these songs to their children. Our goal is to keep these songs alive, from generation to generation, going on five generations now.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.2%; rating input score 87
• Program expense ratio: 86.6%; rating input score 87
• 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: 80%; rating input score 80; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0.6%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.14; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 29.7%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -1.6% per year; rating input score 0; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.7% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings