Launching Educational Assistance Programs Forward Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

C.A.S.H. NSBE Program - Continued facilitation of the Pre-College Initiative membership (Creative and Striving Hard to Succeed (CASH)) program in collaboration with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) for 80+ underrepresented ethnic youth, exposing them to careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The youth were provided: (1) In-person STEM monthly sessions; (2) Exposure to the Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology facility and laboratories (3D printing, electrical and mechanical engineering); (3) Engagement opportunities in experiential learning; (4) Exposure to guest speakers representing diverse STEM fields; (5) Participated in STEM competition teams including FIRST LEGO robotics, KidWind (wind energy), coding, aerial drones, Ten80 race car and math competitions, and the Electric Vehicle Drag Racing program. Competition teams performed very well. Our high school FIRST Robotics team competed for the first time and earned two awards including the Gracious Professionalism Award and the Rookie Award. The aerial drone team completed two Maryland competitions and one team was selected to go to the Dragonfly District competitions in West Virginia. Five KidWind (wind energy) teams competed in competitions in Chicago, IL and two teams placed second and third. Four teams competed at the University of Maryland and again two teams placed second and third. With these wins, all teams were invited to attend the World competition in Phoenix, AZ. With a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration and Alfred Street Baptist Church, teams attended the KidWind World competition for the first time. Our Ten80 racing team received several awards: first place in racing and overall champions for the DMV area. The team was invited and participated in the National competition in Charlotte, NC. The elementary student LEGO team, the Coding Dolphins, competed in a showcase and won the Team Building award. (6) Returned to the NSBE national conference in Chicago and participated in numerous competition teams and received several awards. (7) Continued our CASH NSBE Jr. students STEM Dreams with a series of leadership presentations, motivational speakers, and hands-on activities (www.cashnsbejr.com). Utilizing staff at the SMART building and other STEM professionals, the students engaged in two long-term projects including building desktop computers and designing and building an Electric Vehicle. The computers were used to teach middle school students artificial intelligence. The EV car is still being constructed by high school students and we have not participated in the racing event yet. Our goal is to make our first race in 2027. Our elementary students continued hands-on learning via the use of various STEM kits and projects. Our first-time grant from Battelle allowed us to implement our STEM programming. With four graduating seniors, all pursued STEM majors in college. Grant funding increased. Several fundraisers (Double Good popcorn and an auction) were also held to increase revenue.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 75.7%; rating input score 76
• Program expense ratio: 94.6%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: $53.4 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 81st 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 43
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: 20%; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.15; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.2% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.7% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.3% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings