National Children's Center

What it reported doing in 2024

The residential services program creates homes for people with developmental disabilities that are characterized by warmth and respect. The program provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities in various settings. The services are individualized to assist in nonvocational activities that will enable the individuals to live in their own home, apartment, family home or agency site. Program sites consist of apartments and houses that are located in residential neighborhoods in prince georges and montgomery county, and the district of columbia. The program offers a continuum of care, and varying degrees of support from 24-hour to limited drop-in supervision. Services provided to individuals consists of community integration, professional support services, training in activities of daily living and other areas, person centered planning, assistance with assistive technology, 24-hour emergency assistance, resource coordination, training in food preparation, nutritional services and nursing & medical services. Many of the individuals have secondary disabilities, such as deafness, mental health challenges, and autism. The sites have been modified as needed to be accessible to the individuals, and offer modern adaptive equipment, such as flashing light systems, ramps, tdds, etc. Two homes are designed for residents who communicate via sign language, and the staff in these homes is fluent in sign language. The goals and program for each resident are determined by each individual's needs and preferences, with an ultimate goal of maximizing independence, productivity, and community integration. The program is committed to a team approach that encourages communication with family and day programs. Individuals are fully integrated into their communities, and utilize a wide variety of community resources for recreation and learning.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.9%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 82.8%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $57.34 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 10th 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: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: -6.1%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.37; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.94; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.5%; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0% per year; rating input score 100; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.2% per year; rating input score 100; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -1.1% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings