Voices for Racial Justice

What it reported doing in 2024

Racial equity policy - "our policy and research strategy consists of creating and using legislative advocacy, community based research and analysis as organizing tools. We work in collaboration with community organizers, activists, healers, artists, and multiracial coalitions, to advance racial justice in Minnesota.policy and research tools: two tools inform our policy and research strategy: (1) the racial equity impact assessment, and (2) principles for authentic community engagement. Organizing and training - "strengthening communities and movements through shared learning and training that uplifts the organizing, leadership, and visions of people working to achieve racial justice.our training and leadership development at voices for racial justice comes from a long history of investing in emerging leadership of organizers in Minnesota. We offer training in community cohorts and on a contract basis. For years our organizing training has focused on racial justice analysis, relationship-building opportunities, and practical skill-building for organizers working for racial, cultural, social, and economic justice in Minnesota. In the last couple years we have deepened our commitment to an ecological model of organizing that values the importance of many people and their differing roles in systems change and movement work. We train individuals and organizations to strengthen their tools in effecting transformative change for racial justice. Our cohort model prioritizes deep relationship building across bipoc communities using cultural and healing strategies to support leaders in building restorative organizing. Our cohorts have included: parent education equity fellowship, greater visions duluth and worthington cohorts, youth organizing institute, and statewide community organizing cohorts. " our training and leadership development at voices for racial justice comes from a long history of investing in emerging leadership of organizers in Minnesota. We offer training in community cohorts and on a contract basis. For years our organizing training has focused on racial justice analysis, relationship-building opportunities, and practical skill-building for organizers working for racial, cultural, social, and economic justice in Minnesota. In the last couple years we have deepened our commitment to an ecological model of organizing that values the importance of many people and their differing roles in systems change and movement work. We train individuals and organizations to strengthen their tools in effecting transformative change for racial justice. Our cohort model prioritizes deep relationship building across bipoc communities using cultural and healing strategies to support leaders in building restorative organizing. Our cohorts have included: parent education equity fellowship, greater visions duluth and worthington cohorts, youth organizing institute, and statewide community organizing cohorts. Prison justice - ending mass incarceration/criminal justice: we work in collaboration with people who are incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, and their families through our many cohorts to abolish mass incarceration and transform our communities.women's circle: this cohort emerged as a healing space to connect women impacted by mass incarceration to community, resources, and a space to share their stories and build resilience. In 2020-2021, we were actively involved in organizing for the healthy start act which passed, ensuring incarcerated people who are pregnant receive more humane treatment during and after birth.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 75%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.56 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 97.8%; rating input score 98; 45th 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: 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: -83.6%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.84; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.3%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.2% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.2% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 19.9% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings