Nathaniel's Hope Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Nathaniel's Hope celebrates and serves children and adults with all types of disabilities, referred to as VIPs (Individuals with Value and Incredible Purpose), while educating, equipping, and encouraging communities and churches to provide meaningful support to individuals with disabilities and their families. All programs and services are provided free of charge to participating VIPs and their families. The Organization currently serves more than 16,000 VIP children and adults throughout the year.Nathaniel's Hope operates several core programs designed to provide respite, community engagement, practical assistance, and inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.Buddy Break is a free parent's day out/respite care program serving VIP children and teens as well as their siblings. Through training and partnerships with churches across 38 states, Puerto Rico, and five countries, trained volunteers provide safe, inclusive, and engaging activities while caregivers receive a much-needed break. The program currently serves more than 2,000 VIPs and siblings each month.The VIP Birthday Club provides encouragement and connection to VIP members of all ages. Participants receive a "Bearing Hope" teddy bear, an official VIP Membership Card that provides access to free events and activities, and annual birthday recognition. The program currently serves more than 16,000 VIP children and adults throughout all 50 states, several U.S. territories, and 12 countries.Christmas with Nathaniel's Hope provides practical assistance and holiday support to families impacted by disabilities who are experiencing financial hardship. Through Nathaniel's Toy Shop, donated toys are distributed free of charge to VIP children and their siblings. During the past year, the program served more than 1,500 families and approximately 5,000 children in Central Florida and additional satellite locations throughout Florida. In addition, volunteer teams participating in the Caroling Caravan delivered toys and holiday encouragement to homebound VIP families.Make 'm Smile is an annual community festival celebrating children and adults with disabilities while promoting inclusion and community engagement. The event welcomes VIP families and the public to participate together in activities, entertainment, and community experiences designed to celebrate individuals with disabilities. The annual Orlando event served more than 3,200 VIPs plus their family members, along with thousands of community participants. Additional events have expanded to Ohio, California, North Carolina and Minnesota with plans for future expansion to other communities.The Organization is also developing new initiatives to address the ongoing and evolving needs of the disability community. Nathaniel's Neighbor is a developing outreach initiative designed to connect volunteers and community members with VIP families to provide encouragement and support.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 31.1%; rating input score 31
• Program expense ratio: 96.1%; rating input score 96
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 75th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • 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: 68.6%; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 9.42; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.8% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 20.6% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings