Maui Economic Opportunity Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Meo business development center (meo bdc) offers business planning classes and consultation, financial literacy, and microloans for small business startup operations or expansion, and agricultural micro grants for local operating farms on maui, molokai and lanai to increase the farm's capacity, productivity, name recognition and income. 75 farms received micro grant assistance during the fifth year of the funding.the meo bdc business planning or core four course assisted 114 businesses in the development of a realistic, achievable business plan. The five-week program is offered throughout the year on maui, molokai, and lanai. 1,204 youth to adult attended financial literacy classes that focused on increasing financial health, including saving, budgeting, lending and investment information.early childhood services includes the federally funded meo head start preschool program that provided comprehensive services to income eligible families and promotes school readiness for children ages three to five years old. Comprehensive services are provided to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition, social, and other services determined to be necessary by the family needs assessment. A total of 193 children and 171 families were served by the program during the 2024-2025 program year. Extended day services and summer program were provided with county resources.the kahi kamalii infant and toddler program provides quality early childhood services to families that are employed full time. The program serves children aged 12 months to 3 years. The goal of the program is to provide center-based care for young children so families can successfully obtain and maintain self-sufficiency. The program is supported by the county of maui.other program services include evidence based youth prevention programs, business plan classes and technical assistance, microloans, reintegration support services, hispanic acculturation services, weatherization, liheap programs, the senior farmers market nutrition program, and community services block grant that funds agency-wide administration and programs that support low income individuals and families.highlights for the fiscal year included: the meo ceo and executive leadership team established the leadership cohort program to identify and develop future leaders within the organization. The inaugural cohort ran from september 2024 through june 2025, with five emerging leaders successfully completing the program.the cohort participated in a series of training sessions designed to build knowledge of community action, organizational operations, and leadership skills. The program concluded with cohort participant presentations demonstrating their learning and leadership development.the leadership cohort program provides significant benefits to both the participants and the organization. By building knowledge of community action principles, strengthening leadership and management skills, and increasing understanding of meo's programs and operations, the program prepares emerging leaders to take on greater responsibilities within the agency. Participants gain a broader perspective of how departments work together to serve the community, which promotes collaboration and more effective decision-making. The program also supports succession planning by developing a pipeline of knowledgeable and committed leaders who are equipped to sustain meo's mission and ensure the long-term strength and stability of the organization.meo plans to offer this program every three years to continue to develop emerging leaders. Addressing a cause or condition of poverty in the community using an innovative or creative approach. Hawai`i relief program (hrp) implementation and impact: in response to the august 2023 maui wildfires, maui economic opportunity, inc. (meo) successfully implemented the maui relief tanf program, providing immediate financial assistance to families facing housing instability and economic

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 93.4%; rating input score 93
• Program expense ratio: 93.7%; rating input score 94
• Fundraising efficiency: $1,021,872.46 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 100; 100th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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: 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: 0.2%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.19; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.36; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.2%; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.7% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.4% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings