The Momentum Network

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
815479975
IRS 990 coverage
2017–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Phone
4235210071
Rating
79
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Public, Society Benefit N.E.C.

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$448,239
Expenses
$488,148
Assets
$116,442
Liabilities
$9,275

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

9 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • CARA HICKS (PRESIDENT/CE)

Highest reported compensation

  • CARA HICKS (PRESIDENT/CE): $94,377 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Building the village to propel two-generations to shatter statistics and grow stronger with single moms in college and their children.

What it reported doing in 2024

The momentum network surpassed serving over 300 women and children this year to impact two-generation transformation. By uniting moms, kids, mentors, peers, volunteers, and professional partners, we provided the essential support needed for under-served pregnant and solo parenting students to complete college and secure living-wage careers. Key services included housing, childcare, life skills workshops, coaching, case management, and optional christ-centered discipleship. Workshops covered financial literacy, stress management, parenting, healthy relationships, and optional, but impactful bible studies. Our advocacy with local colleges ensured that no student facing unplanned pregnancy or single parenting lacked the resources and support needed for success. Participants continue to persist and grow in confidence as a parent and competence as an emerging professional (in order to provide for their families). Participants in christian services indicated lower stress, better mental health and a stronger purpose to pursue.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 74
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 78
  • Sustainability: 21
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 77.2%; rating input score 77
  • Program expense ratio: 70.9%; rating input score 71
  • Fundraising efficiency: $27.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 88.9%; rating input score 89; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
    • 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: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -8.9%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.24; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 19.3%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 25.3% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 25.2% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 77.2% of revenue deployed · 70.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 8 of 9 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $346K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $94K · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 25 of 25 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 8 filing years from 2017 to 2024
  • 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.

  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 24/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 13/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 20/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 28/100.