Sierra Service Project

What it reported doing in 2024

Sacramento County Year-Round Programs: SSP hosted 197 year-round volunteers in Sacramento County during Days of Service and Alternative Break sessions. Alternative Break sessions are scheduled by group request, and vary from year to year significantly in length and location - all were day only programs this year (not overnight). In Rancho Cordova, five local youth spent their spring break working on home repairs and received a small stipend to honor their time and commitment. The Sacramento Youth Center partnered with us for the fourth year to host their spring break program, where they worked at the International Garden of Many Colors. Day of Service volunteers completed a two-year project building 1,000' of wood fences and installing 10 paver art medallions for the Dixieanne Clean and Green Alley Project, funded by CalTrans through the City of Sacramento. They also worked throughout the year at community gardens with partners from WeForce Inc.'s Safe Harbor community garden and Color the Block's Rainbow Mini Park Garden. In Rancho Cordova, 50 unique volunteers (24 youth, 21 young adults, and 5 adults) completed 12 home repair projects at 6 homes for 9 residents (4 over the age of 65, and 6 who live with disabilities). In total, 59 people were impacted by SSP's reciprocal home repair program: young people got to practice new skills and build their confidence, while older adults benefited from home repair projects. An AmeriCorps NCCC team of 10 young adults from across the country kicked off our program year as we started projects after the new year. We also worked with Lutheran Social Services of Northern California and its young adult participants for extra hands at times through their workforce development program. Twelve youth from Rancho Cordova volunteered with SSP this year. Stipends were provided via Visa Gift Cards to Rancho Cordova resident youth to honor their time and commitment. Over half of the youth participated in multiple Days of Service, including two who volunteered for 12 days each, and one who volunteered for 16 days! In Rancho Cordova, 12 project units were completed, including an exterior paint project, ramp repair, deck repair, six stair repairs, and a wheelchair lift installation. Youth also spent four days with SSP volunteering at the Rancho Cordova Food Locker.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 66.8%; rating input score 67
• Program expense ratio: 66.9%; rating input score 67
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.72 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 19th 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: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • 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: 1%; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.4; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.38; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.4%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.8% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14.3% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -3.6% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings