Voices for Virginia's Children

What it reported doing in 2024

Policy and programs: this fiscal year, voices for Virginia's children (voices) advanced its mission to champion public policies that achieve positive and equitable outcomes for young people. We re-launched Virginia's youth in action (vaya), a statewide youth policy council of 10-12 individuals ages 15-24. Whether just discovering their voice or seasoned in community engagement, young leaders in vaya have the opportunity to engage directly in public policy and advocacy.throughout the general assembly session, voices hosted three powerful advocacy days. The "our voices, our future" intergenerational advocacy day brought together advocates of all ages, backgrounds, and professions to elevate policies that center young people and those who care for them. We also had a playdate at the capitol, where we created a hands-on, family-friendly space where legislators engaged directly with children, families, and child care providers to underscore the urgent need for early childhood education investments. Lastly, we hosted a healthy school meals for all advocacy day, where we called on lawmakers to ensure every Virginia student has access to no-cost, healthy meals at school. In 2025, voices championed critical policy wins for children and families. As part of the push maternal health coalition, we supported the momnibus legislative package, securing more than $5 million in maternal health investments, including expanded medicaid coverage for doula services, midwife parity, increased postpartum doula visits, and unconscious bias training for medical professionals. Families gained greater support through the expansion of the refundable state earned income tax credit (eitc) to 20 percent of the federal credit, putting more money directly into the pockets of hardworking, low-income virginians. A package of school-based mental health bills passed this session, expanding access to telehealth in schools, requiring mental health first aid training, and increasing suicide awareness education. Our efforts supported investments in child welfare system with $500,000 for workforce retention and $425,750 to expand kinship services. Beyond Virginia, voices brought the stories of youth and families to capitol hill during our federal advocacy day in Washington, d.c. Together with community advocates, we urged Virginia's congressional delegation to oppose harmful cuts to medicaid, snap, head start, and other essential programs. Voices also continues to track federal threats to medicaid expansion in Virginia, where over 630,000 people rely on coverage that could be jeopardized by federal budget decisions. To strengthen this advocacy, we created interactive maps that demonstrate the projected harm in terms of coverage, funding, and economic development losses posed by h.r.1 to Virginia's young people and the adults and caregivers who support them.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 63.1%; rating input score 63
• Program expense ratio: 68.2%; rating input score 68
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.63 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th 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: 9%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.25; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.5%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.6% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings