High Aspirations Incorporated

What it reported doing in 2024

High Aspirations (HA) utilizes intensive development and mentoring to help young men stay on the right path and realize their dreams. The program works with a 7:1 ratio of mentees to mentors, allowing for close personal relationship development and positive reinforcement through teaming. HA's programs strengthen social-emotional skills, relationships and community engagement. Every young man who enters the program is expected to establish his own five-step plan designed to raise grades, increase community involvement, and improve relationships. Mentees are expected to participate in HA programs and are evaluated based on their individualized action plans. The current geographic area served is Kansas City, Missouri's urban core. Current programming includes over 92 partnerships: Chess Club: Teaches critical thinking skills, strategy, and patience: weekly sessions and tournaments throughout the year. Leadership/Entrepreneurship Training: Interactive Speakers series on leadership and business, writing and public speaking, and racial and ethnic pride that builds on a foundation of African-American history. HA's Olympics: Competition that engages all participants, parents, and mentors in Youth Leadership and Service Learning activities. Teams strive for excellence in four key areas: Academics, HA Activities, Relationship Building, and Community Service. Pre-Collegiate Program: Young men explore options in higher education, tour colleges, study for college entrance examinations, discuss college life, and if appropriate, engage in remedial classes. Community Service: Mentees donate their time to various groups, creating positive interaction with their community, learning the importance of being good citizens, and appreciating the value of public spaces. Legally Informed: Our young men interact with the Kansas City Police Department, lawyers, and judges to learn their rights as well as their responsibilities, building understanding of the legal system and the importance of staying on the right track. High Aspirations Lawn Service (HALS): During the spring and summer months, our HALS mentees learn how to run their own business, cutting grass and receiving paychecks. High Aspirations is led by its Founder and President, Henry Wash and our Program Manager, Brian Thomas. We also have a full-time Administrative Assistant as well as two part-time Interns who are graduates of the program. High Aspirations remains committed to best and evidence-based practices, strategies, and approaches, in order to evolve continuously through updated and enhanced programs responsive to the needs of Kansas City's at-risk, black male youth. Outreach and collaboration, now grown to 92 plus diverse, multi-sector partners, remains essential to recruitment and retention of program participants and Mentors. The Mentoring Campus at 803 East 27th Street, in the heart of the Longfellow neighborhood in the urban core and is accessible through public transportation. This new environment is conducive to learning and engagement through an open floor plan, youth friendly access to educational tools, and opportunities to earn rewards through a state-of-the-art media room with positive lifestyle components, raised bed gardens, small track and open air-pavilion. 2023 highlights included: -Strengthening the relationship with University of Kansas and Up Metrics for the purpose of engagement in program evaluation and metrics. -Successfully implemented Stage 2 of the Strategic Plan with the intention and goal of increasing to 70 mentees, 10 mentors, 10 volunteers, 1 program specialist and 1 intern. Youth with mentors have an increased likelihood of going to college, better attitudes toward school, advanced social and emotional development, improved self-esteem and are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol or engage in criminal behavior. Expansion of programming and partnerships to include KPRS/KPRT Radio Show, Keisha Candy Apples, Missouri Department of Conservation, KC Current

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 36.3%; rating input score 36
• Program expense ratio: 55.8%; rating input score 56
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.72 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • 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: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 36.7%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 6; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 20.1%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.3% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 15.7% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.6% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings