Unite-la Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

For more than 25 years, UNITE-LA has led business education partnership programs to help develop a prepared, diverse, local talent pipeline. Working in collaboration with business partners, UNITE-LA leads and supports programs focused on exposing students to high-growth, high-demand STEAM career pathways. In 2024, UNITE-LA made significant strides in advancing equitable career and education pathways, serving 8,884 participants and delivering a total of 13,671 touchpoints across its flagship L.A. Cash for College and STEAM programs. From equipping students with essential financial aid resources to empowering opportunity youth and systems-impacted individuals to enter high-growth/demand fields, UNITE-LA continues to make a measurable impact on Los Angeles' rising workforce through its programs. We primarily serve vulnerable populations of low-income youth ages 16-24 through year-round programming. "Workforce Programs" includes L.A. Cash for College, WorkforceReady, Job Skills Workshops and Work-Readiness, Work Readiness Certifications, My Pathway to Health, Step into Tech, L.A. Regional Cleantech Career Academy, Tech Pathways Academy, South LA Scholars Plus (Health Care Career Pathway), and Partner Open Houses: L.A. Cash for College - L.A. Cash for College (LA-CFC) provides direct support, information and resources for financial aid to students and families across Los Angeles. This is done in collaboration with a wide network of nonprofits, college access providers, high school counselors and local higher education admissions staff. Programming is year-long, with financial aid workshops and events beginning in the fall and concluding in the spring. L.A. Cash for College also includes our scholarship awards program, Dollars for Scholars, which continued last year awarding L.A. Cash for College participants $30,000 in scholarships through the Dr. Alma Salazar and Gary Toebben Scholarship Funds. WorkforceReady - UNITE-LA utilizes an innovative, virtual program consisting of a six-week curriculum designed to help youth develop the essential, non-technical soft skills that will promote their success in the workplace. Job Skills Workshops and Work-Readiness - Our job skills and work readiness development programming include employer-validated Job Skills Workshops and self-paced Workforce Ready programs to prepare students for the real world of work and includes topics such as creating industry sector-specific resumes and cover letters, job interview preparation and success, effective professional/workplace communication, and etiquette, and how to articulate/market their interests, strengths, skills, abilities and experience. Work Readiness Certifications - Certifications follow participants' job skills and work-readiness preparation and include an employer-recognized WRC assessment to ensure students are prepared for early work experience through mock interviews with industry professionals. Employers validate student competencies demonstrated through their resume, interviewing/communication skills, and professional etiquette. Through this process, UNITE-LA cultivates students who are competitive job candidates and are deemed "work ready" for entry-level internships and jobs. My Pathway to Health - creates paid opportunities for young adults to succeed in allied health careers. Through career exploration, job readiness and training in a specified health pathway, future health care professionals develop real-world skills they need to succeed in high-demand, high-growth allied health care careers. Step into Tech - provides paid opportunities for system-involved individuals,18-35 years old, by connecting them to career pathways and jobs in technology through career education, training and exploration, job skills training, mentoring and peer-to-peer support. L.A. Regional Cleantech Career Academy - The Cleantech Academy is a 12-week paid, work-based learning program for future clean energy leaders ages 18 - 24 years old to engage in career

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 89.8%; rating input score 90
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.6 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 98.4%; rating input score 98; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• 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: 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: -7%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.81; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 12.1%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.5% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 16.8% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings