West Central Initiative

What it reported doing in 2024

Programs and outreach: our early childhood initiative is a network of parents, educators, businesses, community leaders, faith leaders, and policymakers joined in a long-term effort to prioritize the care and development of young children. Two important facets of our early childhood initiative include our early childhood dental network and early childhood mental health network. Both programs take a collaborative approach to help ensure our children get the care they need and deserve. We completed the climate action plan for west central Minnesota in spring of 2023, and we are now focused on putting it into action through staffing and outreach, with the goal of creating a sustainable and respected environment for the future. In september 2024, we sponsored more than 30 welcoming week events in our region to welcome and celebrate newcomers of all backgrounds. Our live wide open program showcases the opportunities, natural amenities, and diverse individuals in west central Minnesota, aiming to inspire a sense of belonging and attract people to the region. Our rural democracy program, in a region considered leadership distressed, offers training to individuals considering running for office, engages historically excluded groups in civic processes, and supports local leaders in participating in local government and nonprofits. Our climate and sustainability program coordinated a solar purchasing campaign in partnership with solar united neighbors that educated 100 residents about solar opportunities for their homes; supported 10 communities in in developing small-scale solar and energy resilience projects that have direct community benefits, leveraging public and philanthropic funds; convened monthly meeting and events with regional stakeholders around climate action opportunities from the mn region 4 climate action plan.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 78.2%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.02 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 85.8%; rating input score 86; 18th 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; 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: 26.4%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.18; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.6%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings