Charity Report

  • Issued: January 2024
  • Expires: January 2025

Homeward Alliance (formerly known as Homeless Gear)

Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

970-658-9878

242 Conifer St
Fort Collins, CO 80524-2043

http://www.homewardalliance.org
Accredited Charity

970-658-9878

242 Conifer St
Fort Collins, CO 80524-2043

http://www.homewardalliance.org
Accredited Charity

Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight

    Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1

    Description
    Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fundraising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Board Size

    Number of Board Members: Standard 2

    Description
    Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Board Meetings

    Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3

    Description
    An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Board Compensation

    Compensated Board Members: Standard 4

    Description
    Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Conflict of Interest

    Conflict of Interest: Standard 5

    Description
    No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.

    The organization meets this standard.

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy

    Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6

    Description
    Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Effectiveness Report

    Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7

    Description
    Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

    The organization meets this standard.

Finances

  1. Program Expenses

    Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8

    Description
    Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Fundraising Expenses

    Fundraising Expense Ratio: Standard 9

    Description
    Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fundraising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fundraising efforts.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Accumulating Funds

    Ending Net Assets: Standard 10

    Description
    Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Audit Report

    Financial Statements: Standard 11

    Description
    Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown

    Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12

    Description
    Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fundraising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

    The organization meets this standard.

  6. Accurate Expense Reporting

    Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13

    Description
    Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fundraising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fundraising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

    The organization meets this standard.

  7. Budget Plan

    Budget: Standard 14

    Description
    Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fundraising, and administration.

    The organization meets this standard.

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials

    Misleading Appeals: Standard 15

    Description
    Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Annual Report

    Annual Report: Standard 16

    Description
    Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Website Disclosures

    Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17

    Description
    Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Donor Privacy

    Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18

    Description
    Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures

    Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19

    Description
    Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

    The organization meets this standard.

  6. Complaints

    Complaints: Standard 20

    Description
    Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fundraising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.

    The organization meets this standard.

Conclusion

Homeward Alliance (formerly known as Homeless Gear) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Purpose

  • Year, State Incorporated

    2010, CO

  • Stated Purpose

    Homeward Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission toempower individuals and families who face or are experiencing homelessness. Weoperate a continuum of programs and initiatives to help people meet theirimmediate and long-term needs while furthering our community’s vision tomake homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring.


  • Also Known As:

    The Murphy Center

Programs

Homeward Alliance (HWA) is a Larimer County-based non-profitthat (a) provides evidence-based services to and produces positive outcomes forpeople experiencing homelessness and simultaneously (b) leads or participatesin system-level efforts to address the issue. Programs include:• Murphy Center: The Murphy Center is the hub ofservices--or “front door”--for people experiencing homelessness in LarimerCounty, a building/day shelter in Fort Collins that hosts approximately 20independent nonprofits and serves about 3,000 individuals each year. It is theonly day shelter that serves all populations of people who are homeless inLarimer County (some locations serve subpopulations).• Family Services: Family Services provideshousing-focused case management and support to help families escapehomelessness, and once housed, prevent homelessness. Services include a)Bilingual housing navigation case management, b) 24/7 accessible family foodand child/teen clothing closet, and c) Quarterly Family Resource Fairs forchildren and families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. • Housing First Initiative (HFI): The Housing FirstInitiative has developed and tested Housing First solutions in NorthernColorado since 2018 and is now an umbrella for multiple programs includingRapid Rehousing, Frequent Utilizer Systems Engagement (FUSE), and Mason PlaceCase Management. Housing First case managers provide intensive, supportivehousing practices to transition participants from chronic homelessness to permanent,stable housing. The program maintains a 95% 6-month housing retention rate.Hand Up Employment Services: Hand Up empowers jobseekers experiencing homelessness, or near homeless, to find and maintainemployment. It is the only employment program of its kind in northern Colorado.We offer one-on-one employment support, operate a Career Closet, and partnerwith businesses that hire our participants. We offer services in Loveland andFort Collins. Each year the programhelps secure about 200 jobs.• Re-Entry: Homeward Alliance's Work and GainEducation and Employment Skills (WAGEES) Re-entry Program exists to serve Larimerand Jackson County individuals exiting the criminal justice system by providingthem with wrap-around support so that participants can reach self-sufficiencyin their community. The program focuses on helping participants work on theirmindset, employment/education goals and securing stable housing. • Distribution: This program collects and distributessupplies that help people experiencing homelessness survive and meet basicneeds, including: food for over 100 guests of the Murphy Center seven-days perweek year-round, winter gear and other survival items, and child/teen clothing.In all the program assists about 4,500 adults and children per year.• Dedicated Navigator: Dedicated Navigators (alsocalled Resource Navigators) help meet the unmet health, employment/income andother needs of people experiencing homelessness through the provision ofprofessional and volunteer, multi-layered resource navigation services.Navigators help each person complete a self-directed Action Plan withopportunities for support in four core areas: physical health, mental health,financial stability and social connections. Resource Navigators also provideIntakes and Coordinated Entry assessments.• Bicycle Repair: This all-volunteer program repairsand maintains bicycles to ensure safe, reliable transportation for adults and childrenexperiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Clinics are hosted upon request at locationsthat serve people experiencing homelessness and in low-income neighborhoods.• Mobile Laundry: Mobile Laundry is an all-volunteerprogram that provides free laundry services to adults and families experiencinghomelessness in Loveland and Fort Collins, with the goal of improving schoolattendance, self-esteem, and employment attainment and retention.• Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). HWAserves as the HMIS Lead Agency for the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care(NoCO CoC), encompassing Larimer and Weld Counties. A HMIS is a localinformation technology system used to collect client-level data and data on theprovision of housing and services to homeless individuals and families andpersons at risk of homelessness. This data is then used to inform homelessservices across the region.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, Homeward Alliance (formerly known as Homeless Gear) program expenses were:

Program Services $3,871,986
Program Expenses $3,871,986

Governance & Staff

  • CEO

    David Rout, Executive Director

  • Compensation*

    ¤152,433.00

  • Board Chair

    Paula Stearns, Community Volunteer

  • Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

  • Board Size

    11

  • Paid Staff Size

    44

Governance

* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.

Fundraising

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).

% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 6.10%

Tax Status

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.


Financial

The following information is based on Homeward Alliance (formerly known as Homeless Gear)'s Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022

Source of Funds
Government Grants $2,068,154
Corporate and Foundation Grants $1,102,024
Contributions $613,711
In-Kind Fixed Assets $590,000
In-Kind Product Donations $384,800
In-Kind Facility Management Fee $136,600
Special Events $45,798
Other $14,761
Loss on Disposal of Fixed Assets $-17,114
Investment Income $-56,862
Total Income $4,881,872

Breakdown of Expenses

Total Income $4,881,872
Total Expenses: $4,628,185
Program Expenses $3,871,986
Fundraising Expenses $301,623
Administrative Expenses $454,576
Other Expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $253,687
Beginning Net Assets $1,299,894
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,553,581
Total Liabilities $624,357
Total Assets $2,177,938

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the  Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau ® is a registered service mark of International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

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