Rhode Island Chapter National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
050271809
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2013
Forms available
Form 990 2013
Location
Warwick, RI, USA
Phone
4017388383
Rating
77
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Nerve, Muscle and Bone Diseases

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,054,058
Expenses
$1,081,182
Assets
$447,216
Liabilities
$219,816

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2013. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

12 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • KATHY MECHNIG (CHAPTER PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • KATHY MECHNIG (CHAPTER PRESIDENT): $98,305 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2013. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

People affected by ms can live their best lives as we stop ms in its tracks, restore what has been lost and end ms forever.

What it reported doing in 2013

Public education - there are many ways the society educates the public about multiple sclerosis including the society's annual ms awareness campaign, public service announcements, momentum, the society's quarterly magazine distributed to people with ms, healthcare providers, supporters of the society and more. In addition to a nation-wide e-newsletter, chapters also distribute a local newsletter, ms connection, to their constituents that includes local announcements and information on upcoming programs and services, and more. In total, more than 1.6 million people receive society publications, newsletters and momentum each year.community programs - the society collaborates with dozens of other community organizations, focusing on access to health care, rehabilitation, treatments and therapies; long-term care; disability rights issues; vocational training and rehab, wellness and fitness; and outreach and education to rural and underserved populations. Professional education and training - activities or programs designed to improve the knowledge, skills and critical judgment of physicians and other healthcare professionals engaged (directly or indirectly) in providing patient care services by keeping them abreast of new diagnostic techniques, therapies, etc. The society provides information and education to thousands of health care professionals through the society's clinical care network and website, the society's md on call program, and deducational materials for physical and occupational therapists, mental health professional, nurses and cnas and others. A free electronic newsletter is distributed quarterly to more than 10,000 health care professionals, and the society's diagnostic and symptom management smartphone app has been downloaded more than 45,000 times.

Operating model

Revenue model
Other-operating. 79% of the money available for current operations came from other operating revenue.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 43% for direct work, 4% for grants, and 53% for affiliated organizations.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and revenue has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 73
  • Transparency & Controls: 90
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 27
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 81.9%; rating input score 82
  • Program expense ratio: 79.8%; rating input score 80
  • Fundraising efficiency: $1.98 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 23rd 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: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -2.6%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.41; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.49; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 9.1%; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: Limited
  • Revenue growth: -5.8% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -6.2% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 81.9% of revenue deployed · 79.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 11 of 12 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $863K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $98K · 12 people listed
  • Consistency: 32 of 33 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 3 filing years from 2011 to 2013
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 6/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 28/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 23/100.
  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Schedule A contributions reconciliation did not reconcile in the filed values.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 22/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 39/100.