The Bell Policy Center

What it reported doing in 2024

The Bell Policy Center uses policy research and analysis, advocacy, and strategic communication to advance systems change that supports economic mobility and equity. We approach this work with a focus on four main areas: Public Funding for Economic Mobility: Legislative, ballot, legal, and long-term strategies to ensure public funding for the essential ingredients and levers of economic mobility, as well as core research and analysis on public funding and economic mobility from an equity lens.Strengthening the Caring Economy: Research, communication, and advocacy to elevate and strengthen Colorados caring workforce (early childhood educators, direct care workers supporting older adults and people with disabilities, educators and staff in the K-12 system) and the families they serve.Closing Equity Gaps: Identifying and tackling structural barriers for historically marginalized communities in key levers of economic mobility, with a strong focus on housing, financial empowerment, postsecondary education, and aging, and a specific racial and gender equity lens.Telling the Economic Story: Telling the story of our economy to policymakers, media, and activists with a focus on fairness, racial equity, and economic mobility.Throughout these four priorities, our systems change work strives to center Community (research and advocacy that engages with and builds from the priorities of affected communities), Equity (advancing greater equity in economic mobility for communities of color and other historically marginalized communities), and Narrative (influencing the conversation around economic mobility and building public and political will for systems change on economic mobility). Our team conducts research and analysis to illuminate effects of the systemic barriers and structural inequities that have prevented communities of color, low-income Coloradans, and other marginalized groups from achieving economic mobility, and support communities in developing actionable policy and systems change strategies for addressing them. Through strategic communication and advocacy, we engage Coloradans in these issues, elevate them with policy leaders and the public, and build momentum for actionable solutions. 2024 Accomplishments included:* Strengthened the case for public investment in programs and services that promote greater economic mobility and equity, including our 2024 Budget Inadequacies series of videos highlighting specific examples of how Colorados budget constraints under TABOR are impacting Colorado families;* Published our 2024 Ballot Guide in English and Spanish, providing research and analysis of each of the statewide measures, and rating each measures impact on tax fairness, racial equity, and economic mobility; * Provided a slate of property tax research and analysis resources to help leaders and the public understand the issues at hand, policy proposals under discussion and their impacts, and key equity considerations;* Provided several key resources for leaders and the public around TABOR and analysis of Colorados state budget, looking at trends, opportunities, and challenges, as well as research and communications resources to inform the property tax debate and look at options for more targeted relief for low- and moderate-income Coloradans;* Developed a new Home Care Cost Model examining the true costs of providing in-home care for older adults, both paid care and the costs to unpaid caregivers, allowing leaders and advocates to better understand care needs and to advocate for better support and compensation for caregivers;* With partners, worked to develop and advocate for a new Care Worker Tax Credit, which benefits formal and informal child care providers as well as paid providers of home care for older adults;* Developed new qualitative, community-engaged research on access to household asset-building among informal caregivers for young children and for older adults;* Produced updated analyses of Colorados racial wealth gap

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 77.5%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.79 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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: 5 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 56
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -41.8%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.11; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 20.1%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.1% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.9% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings