BetterLife

What it reported doing in 2020

FRATERNAL ACTVITIES AND PROGRAMS - The following is a report of expenditures, activities and programs of National Mutual Benefit and its branches completed in 2020 in fulfillment of the Society's fraternal character: 1. National Office Branch Support: Subsidies are sent to fraternal branches on a quarterly basis, based on the number of members in a geographic area. Payments range from $100 - $600 per quarter for 40 branches. Incentive cash awards for volunteer activity are presented in addition to quarterly payments. Total amount of payments: $49,800 2. The Community Benefit program offers additional grants to branches for service projects organized by NMB members to help people with basic needs. NMB members are actively involved in organizing activities that impact: scholarship programs, blood donation drives, fire and police departments, city and county parks, crime prevention programs, food pantries, schools, homeless shelters, senior citizens, and children, essay, photo and coloring contests, book and school supply drives, after-school activities, i.e. post-prom parties, and service projects. The Society also makes annual donations to community organizations that assist youth and families. Local branch activities provide financial resources for local libraries, school literacy programs, and safety programs. Events: 183, Volunteer Hours: 6,598, Total amount of payments: $57,520, Local Scholarships: $2,750 3. The Fundraiser and Matching Funds program offers grants to branches when sponsoring a fundraiser benefit for a member or non-member in dire financial need due to illness, accident or disaster. Funds raised locally by branches are then matched up to $2,500 per recipient by the Society. Each branch can apply for up to $5,000 per year. Hours and events for Matching Funds Benefit fundraisers are included here. Events: 7, Volunteer Hours: 2,074, Branches raised: $52,100, NMB matched: $36,225, Total Disbursed: $88,325 4. Family activities that create positive family life and strengthen families by bringing them together for free or subsidized events, i.e. movies, dinners, bowling, bike rides, sporting events, water park outings, etc. These activities include members and nonmembers alike. Events: 13, Volunteer Hours: 110, Payments: $1,832 5. Educational leadership opportunities: Regional fraternal leadership seminars are held for training and motivating member volunteers and representatives to organize successful outreach programs for fellow members and their communities. Events: 1 Regional, Hours: 3,120, Payments: $52,535 6. Patriotic programs and activities are encouraged nationally and through the branches, such as organizing annual Flag Day observances, American flag donations to local schools and support of programs to improve quality of life for active troops and veterans. Events: 8, Volunteer Hours: 47, Payments: $1,572 7. Fraternal support includes activity by members that maintains the branch as a unit; includes events that assist in the development of the branch such as business meetings, committee work, record keeping, and the organization of activities for members and their families, along with printing and mailing of flyers & posters to membership for fundraisers, service projects, family & patriotic events. Events: 86, Hours: 477, Payments: $11,916 8. Fraternal Services support includes other activity and resources to implement and oversee its national fraternal mission. Payments: $11,602 9. Stony Hill School, Fredonia, Wisconsin. National Mutual Benefit has adopted this one-room schoolhouse recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as the birthplace of National Flag Day. The Society underwrites upkeep of Stony Hill School and its educational programs. However, related events were cancelled due to COVID in 2020. Events: 0, Volunteer Hours: 0, Payments: $0 10. FRATERNAL BENEFIT PROGRAM: Members are eligible for these non-contractual fraternal benefits, at no additional cost, over and above their insur

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 0%; rating input score 0
• Program expense ratio: 0%; rating input score 0
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • 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: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 16th 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: Fail
  • 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: -4.7%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.1%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -2.3% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -3.2% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings