Kennebec Valley Community Action Program

What it reported doing in 2024

Energy & housing services is comprised of three divisions: (1) energy & housing services, (2) community initiatives, and (3) real estate development. The energy & housing services division works with individuals and families to improve energy efficiency, to reduce energy burden, to support affordable housing, and to sustain opportunities for homeownership in kennebec, somerset, lincoln, sagadahoc, and franklin counties. This is done through a variety of education/assistance programs including: low-income home energy assistance program (liheap), low income assistance program (liap), emergency crisis intervention program (ecip), central heating improvement program (chip), weatherization, home repair, dep home heating oil tank replacement program, foreclosure counseling, and homebuyer education. In this last year, 6,558 households received fuel assistance to help them stay warm through the winter; 52 furnaces were serviced or replaced, making them safer and more effective; 25 households had a heat pump installed; 59 homes were weatherized, creating a significant energy savings for recipients; and 144 homes were repaired, providing a safer environment for recipients. 365 people also successfully completed a homebuyer education course and 39 households worked with a housing counselor on creating a budget and improving credit scores.the community initiatives division programming is managed through the energy & housing services department as part of their comprehensive community development activities. This includes operating a teen center, resource navigator program, and facilitating the poverty action coalition in both kennebec and somerset counties. The south end teen center provides academic and social supports and enrichment activities to youth from grades 6 through 12 in waterville, Maine. Fifty-nine members attended and participated in activities that included community service projects, music lessons, cooking classes, homework and tutoring, job training, and other enriching activities while focused on completing the school year and/or graduating high school. Four members got a job, two members obtained their driver's permit, 19 members achieved honor roll status, and 35 participated in community service activities. All members advanced to the next grade. The resource navigator program provides case management services to clients referred through other kvcap programs to receive support and resources to help address a financial crisis. The poverty action coalitions' (pac) community investors initiative draws on the resources of the larger community to help individuals and families who are facing a crisis that threatens their stability and when no other resources exist. Special grant dollars and local donations allow us to assist individuals and families with essential needs including food and hygiene items, fuel, utility expenses, cell phone and internet services in order to maintain work and school from home, car payments, and insurance. 524 families received coaching on goal setting, focusing on education, employment, housing, basic needs, and financial stability. More than 9,000 families received direct supports to help meet their basic needs, including housing, hygiene, food, clothing, transportation, medical items, and more. The real estate development division works toward finding and developing opportunities to address the areas need for affordable housing. Kvcap renovated 2 single-family homes in waterville; with one being sold and the second on the market. Construction at cony village in augusta was completed with the construction of two single-family homes and three condominiums. Final sales are pending. Construction began on a 37 unit workforce development apartment complex on king and gold streets in waterville. Kvcap also purchased the fairfield primary school, with plans to develop 31 affordable apartments in 2027.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 90.6%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 91.5%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $125.65 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • 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: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • 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: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.44; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.5%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.5% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.7% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.2% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings