1. Meeting 10
Final Project Example

2. Criteria Small(ish) nonprofit Must be a 501(c)3
Not a member-serving organization
Ranked 2-3 stars
Small in size (somewhere around $5 million in program expenses, or less)

3. Food Access Charities Found under “Human Services”
“Food pantries and food distribution”
Big nationally recognized examples:
Second Harvest (national and local chapters)
Generally **** rated

4. Imperial Valley Food Pantry
El Centro, California

5. Imperial Valley Food Bank (IVFB) is an independent, non-profit charitable corporation, created and operated for and by residents of Imperial Valley with the purpose of feeding those in need living in Imperial County. The food bank was established in IVFB has steadily increased our capacity to meet the needs of our community. The demand for emergency food assistance in Imperial Valley remains a county-wide effort as IVFB consistently serves 20,000 individuals monthly. IVFB's primary function is to resource, allocate and distribute nutritious food through non-profit agencies in the county who distribute food directly to their local communities.

6. Mission Statement
At the Imperial Valley Food Bank we aim to ensure that all residents have access to nutritionally valuable food. Our programs and staff support the distribution of food as well as increase self-reliance to improve the quality of life within our community.

7. Charity Navigator Ratings….
Financial: ***
Accountability and Transparency: *
Overall: **
Puzzle – much easier to fix accountability and transparency than financials
Even if you cannot afford an independent audit, many of other measures are free

8. Financials Revenue Program expenses: $2.7 million
$2.57 million contributions
$1.2 million in government grants (47% of revenues)
Annual report indicates large foundation grants – not picked up by CN
Program expenses: $2.7 million
Administrative Expenses $91,769
Fundraising expenses: $76,000
Program Expenses/Total Expenses = 94%
Compensation to CEO: $53,546 (obviously, very good number)

9. Failure is on Transparency and Accountability
Charity Navigator criteria where nonprofit fails:
Conflict of interest policy
Whistleblower policy (only 15 staff members)
Records retention
Donor privacy policy
Audited Financials
Proudly promotes Independent Board Members on Website
Form 990
Why????????

10. Leveraging of Activities
Works with:

11. Specifics on Programs Nutrition Education Weekend Backpack Program
Box of Basics ($25 food “bag”) that contains basic needs for week
Food Rescue (partnered with Walmart)
Captures food that would be discarded
School gardens

12. Parallel Government Programs
Food Stamps
Must have gross monthly income of $2,600 or less
About $30,000/year (family of four)
Another one of those odd things the federal government does
This is a good amount of money in rural Tennessee, where a house can be purchased for $60,000
Benefit is on sliding scale
Must have lived in country for five years
Working or willing to work

13. Website Vague about Impacts
Repeats financials and sources of funds
Could easily “up its game” by being more transparent about where money actually goes
Also an issue – organization is “banking” money
This makes evaluators nervous, but simply could be desire to be bigger in the future

14. Creating a Parallel Nonprofit With Same Focus
Emphasis should be on mission, methodology, stakeholders, etc.
No need to make up financials
Stick to organizing a mid-size nonprofit conformable to the one you reviewed
Complex funding makes the exercise more interesting
Make sure you address leveraging of donations, answerability, management structure, etc.

15. Also…. How does organization reach its donors Volunteers?
Web only?
Advertising (impact on costs)
Volunteers?
Where are they put to use?
How does your organization prevent malfeasance?
Long-term plans and prospects
Other? Be creative.