Resource a Nonprofit Community Enterprise Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Since 1991, resource has been empowering individuals and strengthening Vermont communities through workforce development, poverty relief, and environmental stewardship. Resource operates four reuse centers across the state that accept and redistribute household goods and building materials to vermonters: two in chittenden county, 339 pine street in burlington, and 329 harvest lane in williston; one in Washington county, 30 granite street, barre; and one in lamoille county, 590 e main street, hyde park. Through these reuse centers, resource finds new homes for major appliances, computers, electronics, furniture, and building materials, diverting usable items from the landfill and into the homes of those in need. Resource has expanded its services and programming to offer more opportunities to at- risk youth and low-income individuals and families. Environmental stewardship: in terms of environmental impact, resource kept 723 tons (1,110,186 items) of goods from vermonts only landfill. Resource also completed 95 community projects in 2024: 50 focused on flood recovery efforts following the Vermont flooding in 2023 and 2024; 42 other construction projects, 3 deconstruction, and 1 housing rehabilitation project benefiting a low-income homeowner. Poverty relief: in addition to the affordable housing construction and weatherization services identified above, resource also provides skill training to disadvantaged individuals and distributes essential goods to low-income families and victims of disaster. Over 85% of workforce development trainees who graduate from resource's programs are placed into employment within three months of completing the program. Resource's essential goods program supports over 30 nonprofit partner agencies and alleviates poverty by distributing household appliances, cooking equipment, beds, other furniture, and building materials to those with the lowest income. Based on requests from 28 partner agencies, resource awarded 70,000 in essential goods vouchers for 2024. Clients of those partner agencies across Vermont redeemed them, serving at least 1,458 individuals and families (1,036 adults and 422 children). 2024 resource graduates with job placement outcomes reported average starting wages of 21.27/hour. All of resource's training programs are designed to provide a symbiotic benefit in each of the organizations three mission areas; combining these elements provides important synergies and value that support the sustainability of programs. Training: resource has three categories of job skill training: work experience: individuals who aren't ready to work but are looking to gain experience may do so in a safe and supportive environment as a step toward becoming work ready. Workforce advancement: through a twelve-month construction apprenticeship, laborers employed by area construction contractors are provided carpentry skill training that allows them to become certified carpenters through registered apprenticeship. Resource also offers embedded trainings exploring career opportunities with local businesses, and custom skilled- based trainings, certifications, and refreshers for incumbent workers supporting those who are under-employed. Training outcomes: each year, resource trains over 300 individuals. By providing customized training to each individual's needs, as well as certifications and basic soft-skills training needed to lay the groundwork for future employment, trainees develop the personal and professional skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. Workforce development: individuals with barriers to employment learn soft and technical skills and earn the credentials needed to be placed in employment in their desired career. In 2024, resource trained 302 individuals enrolled in training programs. Resource saw 247 trainees achieve successful outcomes out of the 268 trainees who were expected to complete training in 2024 (40 trainees continued training into 2025); creating a 92% graduation rate acro

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 78.1%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $23.52 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: -3.6%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.34; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.64; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.9%; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.8% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.1% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings