Otter Tail-wadena Community Action Council Inc

What it reported doing in 2011

Family services: otwcac supports multiple family service programs. These programs include: fathers' resource program: assistance for non-custodial parents includes free information, support and legal clinics to parents regarding paternity, visitation, custody, and child support. The program helps men and women become actively involved in the nurturing and support of their children. Car loans: funds are available to assist an individual with purchasing a vehicle. Collateral is required. Eligibility guidelines apply. This program serves wadena and otter tail counties and is dependent on funding.emergency services: funds are available to help families with basic shelter needs including deposits, rent, food, transportation, and mortgage assistance. These services are provided either directly or by referrals to other agencies. Services are dependent on funding.family assets for independence in Minnesota (faim): this program helps an individual or family set aside savings to reach a goal of higher education, starting a small business or home ownership. Savings are matched 3:1 through state, federal and private grants. Savings are matched for up to 2 years. Participants receive training in money management and in their goal track. Eligibility guidelines apply.financial literacy: free sessions center around sharpening your money management skills. Classes cover budgeting, credit repair, money saving ideas, awareness of lending practices, and consumer protection laws.mortgage counseling foreclosure prevention: our staff can help families review their income and expenses and their options in the foreclosure process. Session may include money management, lender negotiations, determining short and long term housing goals, referral to other agencies for additional assistance.income tax assistance: tax aide offers free income tax assistance to low income families. Tax sites are set up throughout northern Minnesota. Volunteers assist with both federal and state income tax, state property and renter refund forms, child care refunds and earned income tax credit (eitc) refunds.program eligibility screening: we are able to screen households for food support, energy assistance, minnesotacare, child care assistance, general assistance medical care, medical assistance, earned income tax credit/working families tax credit, school lunch programs. The program is anonymous, confidential & it only takes minutes.during the fiscal year ended september 30, 2012, otter tail-wadena community action council, inc. Made a decision to transfer its programs to a neighboring community action agency and begin the process of closing the agency. All but one of the family services programs and staff were terminated as of june 30, 2012. The fathers resource program and staff were terminated on september 30, 2012. Consequently we do not have a full years worth of data for any of these programs.no families received budget counseling, 4,566 households received tax aide, 206 families received homeless assistance, 8 families received transitional housing, 36 families received emergency assistance, 1168 individuals received food or food vouchers, 111 families received community food packages, 240 families received holiday packages,59 families received transportation assistance, 7 families received car loans,7,309 families received information and referral services, and 3 families participated in faim.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 70th 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; 65th 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: 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6.7%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.25; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.44; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.3%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -12.1% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -38.2% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings