Work-based Learning Alliance

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
884022538
IRS 990 coverage
2022–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2022
Location
Dover, DE, USA
Phone
6172216446
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Educational Services and Schools - Other

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$2,059,944
Expenses
$1,943,979
Assets
$585,236
Liabilities
$321,471

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

6 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • PRUDENCE CLIFFORD (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT)
  • NICOLE DAVIS (VICE PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • PRUDENCE CLIFFORD (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT): $190,777 total reported compensation
  • NICOLE DAVIS (VICE PRESIDENT): $140,971 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The work based learning alliance (wbla) is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide all high school students across the united states with access to industry connected learning experiences that develop the realworld skills needed to succeed beyond the classroom. We are focused on addressing the needs of historically marginalized and underrepresented student populations by delivering mobilefirst virtual experiences that meet students where they are, eliminating barriers to access. The opportunities we give students today will shape the workforce of tomorrow, and we are committed to providing accessible, equitable and sustainable opportunities for all.

What it reported doing in 2024

To provide a proven projectbased learning model where students work in teams to complete a realworld project from an industry partner. Throughout their project, students receive feedback on their work from an industry mentor. Partnering directly with industry ensures our programs are designed to align to the current and future needs of organizations. They also support the advancement of indemand industry roles, tasks and skills, and develop diverse talent pipelines. We look to ensure mentors share lived experience with our student populations allowing students to truly see themselves in industry.the virtual nature of our programs ensure students are ale to participate regardless of geography, and provide students the flexibility to work both synchronously and asynchronously around their existing commitments. Our current program options include: 50 hour virtual internship, 100 hour virtual internship and 20 hour virtual industry project experiences.

Operating model

Revenue model
Grant-funded. 64% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 40% for direct work, and 60% for grants.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 87
  • Transparency & Controls: 83
  • Accountability: 88
  • Sustainability: 31
  • Growth: 80

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 87.9%; rating input score 88
  • Program expense ratio: 93.1%; rating input score 93
  • Fundraising efficiency: $25.07 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • 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: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 14th 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: 5.6%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.3; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.55; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 17.1%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 68.9% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 61.1% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -4% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 87.9% of revenue deployed · 93.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 4 of 5 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $1.8M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $191K · 6 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 27 of 27 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 3 filing years from 2022 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 9/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 52/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 16/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 19/100.