Junior Achievement North

What it reported doing in 2024

Experiential learning programming: experiential learning programs bring learning to life for students. These programs are centered on a learning laboratory experience that provides a tangible way for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom while onsite in the junior achievement learning labs. Experiential learning programs include ja biztown and ja finance park with in-person and virtual delivery models.ja biztown - elementary and middle school students are not old enough to drive, work, vote or be a ceo. But that doesn't stop them from operating banks, managing restaurants, writing checks, and voting for mayor at ja biztown. The program combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to this fully interactive simulated lab. Ja biztown helps students connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world. Through daily lessons, interactive activities, and participation in this simulated community designed to support differentiated learning styles, students develop a strong understanding of the relationship between what they learn in school and their successful participation in an economy and community.ja finance park - students practice planning for a successful future during this learning simulation that covers critical personal finance concepts and career exploration. Ja finance park is designed to be taught to middle school and high school students by classroom teachers. At the culmination of this program, students visit ja finance park in a virtual simulation or an on-site day to put into practice what they have learned about economic options and the principles of budgeting. Assisted by their teachers and a staff of trained volunteers, students explore budgeting and how educational and financial decisions can impact their future.we meet students where they're at. We utilize virtual content to meet the continual needs of remote learning opportunities, which means students who couldn't before receive classroom programming or make it to our learning labs now have access to those experiences, including virtual volunteer videos, ja biztown online adventures, and ja finance park virtual.we meet students where they're at. The virtual innovations we started developing in 2020 will remain part of our ongoing programming so we can continue to reach a broader group of students within the region. We have leveraged virtual content to meet the continual needs of remote learning opportunities, which means students who couldn't before receive classroom programming or make it to our learning labs now have access to those experiences, including virtual volunteer videos, ja biztown online adventures, and ja finance park virtual.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 90.1%; rating input score 90
• Program expense ratio: 75.5%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -14.8%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.15; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 15.5%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.7% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings