United Planning Organization

What it reported doing in 2024

Community services - by partnering with other community based organizations, local businesses, government agencies and volunteers in 2023, upo planned and implemented selfsufficiency interventions that served a total of 52,852 low-income residents (men, women and children) in all four quadrants and eight wards of Washington, dc. As we continue to work post covid19, upo remains resolved to helping dc residents maintain or achieve ecomonic security. Upo consistently reaches out within communities in the district of columbia that experience high levels of poverty and economic insecurity. Services are provided at: ---five (5) upo community service centers---eighteen directly operated head start sites---two partner funded sites, and ---through contractual relationships with eight community based organizations (cbos) working as csbg service providers. Direct services provided by upo include employment assistance; early education; youth social and emotional development; youth academic enrichment; adult education; vocational skills training and certification; housing support and assistance; budget and income management counseling; financial literacy training; emergency support services; nutrition education; comprehensive case management; health related services and linkages to private and government support service programs. In the fiscal year 2025, all of upo's community services programs operated with the goal of ensuring that 1) individuals and families with low-income are stable and achieve economic security, 2) communities where people with low-incomes live are healthy and offer economic opportunity, and 3) people with low-incomes are engaged and active in building opportunities in their communities. Altogether, upo's community services network served a total of 53,321 low-income men, women, and children in all four quadrants and eight wards of Washington, dc. As a result of the services provided, 795 individuals with low incomes secured employment that placed them in a better position to attain self-sufficiency; 244 individuals with low incomes who completed extensive vocational skills training and received national certifications that placed them in a better position to secure gainful employment; 837 customers received tax preparation services and secured refunds with upo's free tax preparation complimented with much-needed income management counseling; 315 youth who received academic enrichment services; over 1,000 youth mentored by foster grandparents; and 1,064 who received case management with other support services designed to enable them to compete for, secure and maintain employment.upo coordinated community health initiatives, community reinvestment strategies, home retention education, and community engagement strategies. Community services block grant (csbg) funds were also used to support early head start service delivery, transportation for homeless customers and comprehensive treatment. By partnering with other community based organizations (cbos), local businesses, government agencies and volunteers, upo planned and implemented interventions that lead to increased economic security for dc residents who have low incomes. Upo's outreach was targeted at residents of multiple communities in the district of columbia that have experienced high levels of poverty and economic insecurity. Services provided following outreach were primarily delivered at three (3) upo community service centers, twelve directly operated early head start sites, two partner-funded sites, and through contractual relationships with six (6) cbos working as csbg service providers. Direct services provided by upo across the city include employment assistance, early education, youth social and emotional development, youth academic enrichment, adult education, vocational skills training and certification, housing support and assistance, budget and income management counseling, financial literacy training, emergency support services, nutrition educatio

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 96.1%; rating input score 96
• Program expense ratio: 83.5%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $836.3 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.22; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.73; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.9%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3% per year; rating input score 100; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1% per year; rating input score 100; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.8% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings