Ignite Afterschool

What it reported doing in 2025

In 2025, Ignite Afterschool advanced its mission to unite Minnesota's afterschool community and strengthen afterschool programs through partnership, education, and advocacy. Through its partnership work, Ignite played a leadership role in statewide STEM and youth development initiatives. Ignite's Executive Director served as Co-Chair of the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem Advisory Council, which received $1.5 million in legislative support to advance the development of statewide and regional STEM hubs connecting schools, out-of-school-time programs, higher education, and industry partners. Ignite also partnered with the University of California, Irvine to support research on parents' perceptions of STEM and their impact on youth access to STEM learning opportunities. Through participation in the national With Youth for Youth cohort, Ignite expanded youth leadership opportunities by engaging youth fellows in organizational projects and supporting the youth-led Cannabis Awareness and Education Council (CAEC). CAEC engaged approximately 11 youth leaders, conducted listening sessions with more than 30 young people, developed educational resources on cannabis use and brain development, and completed three peer-to-peer cannabis education lessons. Ignite also participated in regional and statewide partnerships focused on expanding afterschool opportunities and improving youth access to out-of-school-time programs. In its Quality, Professional Development, and Continuous Improvement program area, Ignite continued implementation of the M3 Continuous Program Improvement Process, supporting afterschool programs in strengthening program quality through ongoing planning, assessment, and improvement. In 2025, Ignite completed an evaluation of the M3 process, resulting in recommendations that informed a redesign of facilitator training. Ignite engaged more than 115 participants in M3 kickoff sessions, facilitated 26 M3 Huddles, and convened four Communities of Practice for licensed facilitators. Through its Professional Development Exchange, Ignite delivered trainings aligned with evidence-based effective practices and launched a STEM Career-Connected Learning Community of Practice in partnership with STEM Next. Through its i-SAC accreditation program, Ignite accredited 28 school-age care sites and launched a new accreditation cycle with nine participating sites. Ignite also provided nonprofit leadership development opportunities for 15 high school students through its Summer Young Nonprofit Leaders Club. Through its advocacy and issue education efforts, Ignite convened statewide stakeholders to address policy and funding issues affecting afterschool and expanded learning programs. The organization facilitated discussions regarding reimbursement rates impacting program access, supported 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees during uncertainty surrounding federal funding, and raised public awareness about the value of afterschool programs through Lights On Afterschool activities, social media outreach, site-based celebrations, and educational videos highlighting the impact of afterschool funding and programming across Minnesota communities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 95.9%; rating input score 96
• Fundraising efficiency: $437.98 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 94; 94th 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -4.7%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.52; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.11; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.6%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 26.1% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 24.7% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.5% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings