Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads

What it reported doing in 2013

Public awareness and advocacy: we are: a public-private partnership created in 2005 by business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to address the issue of school readiness in the region of south hampton roads. The hampton roads community foundation (hrcf) and the batten educational achievement fund (beaf) of the hrcf have granted over $8 million to help us achieve our mission. We are grateful for the vision and commitment of frank and jane batten and the hrcf, as well as the many other corporations, individuals, and foundations that have given generously to our cause. In addition, sbshr has received just under $1 million in public funds over the last six years. We serve: chesapeake, norfolk, portsmouth, suffolk, and Virginia beach. Our vision: all children in south hampton roads arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life. Our role: smart beginnings south hampton roads (sbshr) was created to: - raise awareness; - advocate for greater public-private investment; - improve our early education systems; and - work with municipality-led coalitions.we have raised awareness on the importance of the early years, educated parents on how they can help their children to be ready, and collaborated with our community partners to make young children and their education a priority. Overall: sbshr has been recognized as a model early education initiative in Virginia. Since 2005, other states have looked to us for guidance on best practice models that help a child be ready for academic and social success. Many of our innovative programs are being replicated by other localities statewide. There is no other organization in our region that is solely dedicated to raising awareness, advocating for greater public-private investment and working with the region and state to improve early education for young children and families.in 2005, sbshr set out to change the way our region and state thinks and prioritizes young children. Several public awareness campaigns were launched to educate the public on the fundamental importance of the early years and build public support for school readiness in the region and state. Impact - launched a series of mini-campaigns to position the quality rating improvement system (qris) as a consumer education tool, show how children are better off because of our work, and arm parents with tools to help their children be ready for kindergarten. - drove 76,200 parents, grandparents and others to our website for parent-building information to view qris ratings and to download information to help children be ready for school. - published over 125 articles and opinion pieces promoting the issue of early education. The awareness and advocacy work will be continued through e3: elevate early education, a statewide social entrepreneurial venture, created in 2012 by business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to aggressively pursue and challenge policy makers to make early education in our state a priority.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 99.3%; rating input score 99
• Fundraising efficiency: $0 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 96.4%; rating input score 96; 28th 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: 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: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -50,051,800%; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 20.8%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -42.8% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -42.7% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings