Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts

Transcription

1 Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts General Information 128 Union Street, Suite 34 New Bedford, MA 274 (58) Website Organization Contact Jeffrey Pelletier Year of Incorporation

2 Statements & Search Criteria Mission Statement Junior Achievement is the world s largest and longest-operating charity exclusively dedicated to teaching work-readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship to young people. We have an extensive network and a rich history of collaborating with local businesses and educators to affect positive change in our community. From learning to balance a checkbook to understanding how to be an effective team member, from interviewing to critical-thinking skills, JA remains focused as it has for 96 years on encouraging paths to self-sufficiency. In short, Junior Achievement empowers young people to own their economic success. Background Statement Junior Achievement (JA) is a 51c3 organization that inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. Founded in 1919, JA now has 122 national affiliates and reaches over four million students throughout the United States. Locally, JA chapters in Massachusetts were incorporated in New Bedford in 1948, Fall River in 1976 and Attleboro in In 1993, JA chapters in Greater Fall River and Greater New Bedford merged and were joined by the Attleboro and Taunton areas by Today, Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts (JASM) is one of 117 local area chapters, serving students in public, private and parochial classrooms throughout 21 towns from North Attleboro to Wareham. For its first four decades, Junior Achievement was an after-school program for high school students built around the concept of young people developing and running their own companies. As times have changed, so has Junior Achievement. Today Junior Achievement's programs are primarily administered within the classroom by a volunteer from the business community who leads the students through a series of discussions and activities, sharing his or her professional and life experiences along the way. The JASM staff consists of a President, Development and Operations Manager, and a Program Director who are overseen by an active Board of Directors. The Board, made up of committed volunteers hailing mostly from the business community but also including educators and retirees, provides governance and assists the staff with securing volunteer and funding resources. JASM Board members who actively volunteer in JA classrooms has exceeded 7% for more than a decade, exemplifying their deep commitment to our mission. 2

3 Impact Statement Impact: 1. We saw unparalleled program growth during the academic year. We have provided over 5, students with programming which is a 25% increase from the 4, students reached last year young women completed our first ever week-long Camp SPARK residential program at Bridgewater State University on July 15th. We provided the girls with a combination of career exploration, entrepreneurship, and leadership development skills, while encouraging participants to identify and address important issues facing the SouthCoast. 3. We continued our focus in New Bedford schools with substantial engagements at the Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School. This spring our volunteers provided JA programs to every single classroom in the school, including offering our JA Ourselves Program to ESOL students in Spanish. 4. Hosted the 4th Annual TITAN Business Challenge where we brought 12 students from 13 high schools together with 3 local business professionals at UMass Dartmouth to compete for scholarship dollars in a day-long virtual business competition. 5. We have continued our impact in New Bedford Schools by partnering with Keith Middle School to provide the entire 8th grade with programming to aid in their transition to high school. We introduced a career day to the 9th grade students at New Bedford High School to expose them to various career opportunities. Goals: 1. Scale up our internal staff capacity- we are currently serving 5, students in 21 towns/ cities with 2.5 full time employees. 2. Continue growing and meeting the needs of the community by growing our volunteer base. 3. Transition from serving only certain classrooms in schools to serving schools comprehensively so that all students benefit from JA Programming. 4. Continue creating innovative programming to fully engage students in our local communities. 5. Improve our community recognition and brand awareness through community outreach, our new website, social media and volunteerism. Needs Statement Finances: It costs nearly $8 to bring JA to a classroom due to the cost of program materials and the pre and post-preparation work needed to deliver each program. Our funding for programming needs to grow dramatically to sustain and meet skyrocketing requests for programming. Volunteers: Junior Achievement volunteers are an integral part of the JA model. We have been actively working to strengthen our volunteer base, particularly in areas where the program requests currently outnumber our current volunteers. Educators: To achieve our goal of reaching additional students with the JA experience, we must expand to more schools and classrooms. We are making efforts to serve schools in a strategic manner which involves transitioning from serving a hand full of classrooms in a school to serving every classroom in each school. Strategic Partnerships: JA s programs have a direct impact on the stability and success of our future employers, workers, and consumers and thus the economy as a whole. In order to keep making such a substantial impact on our students, we need to continue our efforts and community outreach to allow each community that we serve to know who we are, know our brand, and to have all of the students within the community involved in our events and programming. 3

4 CEO/Executive Director Statement "Inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy." An important mission carried out by passionate people. We are excited by the changes taking place in students, schools, families and our community through the work of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts. We bring students, educators, volunteers and the community together so that we can help our young people make intelligent financial and career decisions that will help them own their economic success. Focusing on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship skills, our students learn through hands-on, participatory educational activities. They learn the importance of staying in school, how to take personal financial responsibility, the meaning of their roles as responsible consumers, and skills for the world of work so they can take advantage of economic opportunities and make smart financial choices to achieve their goals. JA brings its courses into schools across all demographics into public, private and parochial schools, into urban, rural and suburban settings, and to students both academically gifted and challenged. By encouraging them to think about their futures, JA plays a key role in creating informed graduates that understand the value of getting a job and keeping it. And, by helping students develop competitive skills and confidence, JA bolsters the local economy, thereby contributing to economic growth. In other words, by supporting our work and the kids we serve, *you* contribute to economic growth. Thank you for taking an interest in JA of Southern Massachusetts! Please explore our site and contact us to learn how you can join us to make a difference in our community. Board Chair Statement At no time in our nation s history has the need for financial literacy and work readiness skills been greater. With your help, Junior Achievement is exposing nearly thousands of students in Southern Massachusetts to the fundamentals of money management, career exploration, and entrepreneurship. A productive workforce begins with the education of our youth, and we all play a critical role towards this goal. In our changing economic landscape, our programs encourage students to explore the educational and career opportunities that await them. Our JA classroom programs help students see the connection between what they re learning in school and how it will affect their future, providing them with valuable teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking skills and getting them excited about their future. With your support, we are preparing students to be productive and financially responsible adults. We continue to provide unique learning opportunities to ensure that our young people succeed in this rapidly changing world. We extend a special thanks to our partners and donors we appreciate all that you do to further JA s mission. If you are not yet a supporter of JA, we invite you to become part of this amazing experience. Service Categories Youth Development Programs Educational Services Youth Development-Business 4

5 Geographic Areas Served Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts reaches students in 5 school districts including the following 21 cities and towns: Acushnet, Attleboro and N. Attleboro, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Wareham and Westport. Please review online profile for full list of selected areas served. 5

6 Programs Junior Achievement K-12 Programs Description Delivered by local volunteers, Junior Achievement classroom programs begin at the elementary school level, teaching children how they can impact the world around them as individuals, workers and consumers through age-appropriate curricula. The programs continue through the middle and high school grades, preparing students for future economic and workforce issues to help them become better employees, employers, consumers and citizens. JA programs are designed to enrich the classroom experience. All JA programs utilize high-quality text materials, hands-on activities, classroom discussions and volunteer participation to help students build the skills they will need to excel in school and in whatever career they choose to pursue after graduation. Each program is matched to grade-specific social studies curriculum goals. Program activities build mathematics, reading, communication and problem-solving skills as they enhance student understanding of business and economic concepts. Furthermore, all programs administered by JA of Southern MA have strong correlations to the newly adopted Massachusetts Core Curriculum. Budget 2124 Category Youth Development, General/Other Youth Development, General/Other Population Served Children and Youth ( - 19 years),, Program Short Term Success Research suggests that JA programs impact youth attitudes that affect student behaviors which, in turn, drive academic achievement. As Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts expands to reach more students within our service area, we expect an increased number of students who experience a shift in attitudes that have been linked with graduation rates at the end of their 5-7 week session. Specifically, 9% or more of JASM alumni will see the direct relevance of what they are learning in the classroom to their future; understand the value of having a high school diploma at a minimum; and develop the internal drive and belief that they can be successful. They will also have a greater understanding of skills that are needed to succeed in the workforce and how to manage their personal finances while becoming informed consumers. These outcomes can be measured through student and teacher surveys, as well as continued national research by JA USA. 6

7 Program Long term Success JA's goal is to provide students with the tools they need to create personal financial and economic success. Faced with staggeringly low graduation rates in two of JASM s largest service areas New Bedford (56%) and Fall River (67%), compared to 83% statewide the need for a comprehensive approach to this issue is vital. JA programs bridge the gap between what students learn in the classroom and how it will affect them in the real world, illustrating the importance of staying in school. By working with local schools to provide repeated and consistent JA experiences to students, we expect a rise in graduation rates by 1% or more in the next ten years. Additionally, we expect to see an increase in today s youth engaging in positive financial habits. Currently, as many as 1 in 3 adults do not save a portion of their household income for retirement and 1 in 4 do not pay all of their bills on time (according to the 211 Consumer Financial Literacy Suvey by Harris Interactive). Program Success Monitored By To measure program quality, JA has conducted more than 6 evaluation studies nationally since 2 to measure the effectiveness and relevance of our efforts, with 96% of JA s programs having been evaluated within the past four years. However, JASM s quality policies go beyond the required standards, placing program quality as one of the top goals of the organization. From outset to completion, these are the steps taken by JASM for every program/classroom to ensure that we are administering the highest quality programs: Prior to beginning their first course, new volunteers are required to complete a training session that is conducted by a JASM staff member. Conduct standards and other legal topics are covered, though the bulk of the two-hour session prepares volunteers for the classroom so the volunteer can be as effective as possible. Once courses are in session, they are closely monitored by the JA staff. A key method of quality assurance is the check-in call, which is made during the 3 rd week of the visits, allowing JA staff to perform any necessary trouble-shooting to assure the best possible outcome for both the students and the volunteers. On the day of the last class, volunteers and teachers are sent JASM s detailed on-line survey, asking for additional feedback so that we can improve upon the course. The on-line assessment tool provides a certain degree of third-party anonymity to prevent bias. Results of the academic year indicate ratings of 9% as good or excellent in all ratings categories. In the summer, JASM acts on its evaluation data. When the data clearly reflects a sub-standard volunteer or teacher, the teacher s next JA request is not granted or the volunteer is simply not asked to enter another classroom on JA s behalf. JASM also enlists the Volunteers and Programs Team, made up of Board members, to improve processes before the start of the succeeding school year. 7

8 Examples of Program Success Junior Achievement's Alumni Retrospective Survey found that JA graduates reported more confidence in succeeding with workreadiness objectives such as acing a job interview and demonstrating a competitive edge in the job market as well as personal money management and entrepreneurship behaviors and attitudes. When asked if being a JA student positively affected their future, 92 percent of those surveyed responded with a resounding! Similarly, 9 out of 1 alumni reported they are confident in their ability to manage their personal finances effectively, compared to 71 percent of those who did not have the benefit of a JA experience. Furthermore, 96 percent of alumni reported that JA made them confident about working effectively in a team environment, compared to 82 percent of non-ja respondents. The survey also showed 76 percent of JA alumni reported confidence in starting their own business, as opposed to 41 percent of the comparison group. 8

9 Management CEO/Executive Director Executive Director Mr. Jeffrey Pelletier Term Start Sept 216 Experience Jeffrey Pelletier serves as the President of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts. Previously, Pelletier supported the strategic economic development agenda of the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts as the Business Development and Communications Officer for the New Bedford Economic Development Council. Pelletier also served as the Program Director for Executives Without Borders, a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the business community in solving the world's greatest humanitarian challenges. In Haiti, he directed a nationwide jobs and recycling program that collected over 35 million plastic bottles and generated over $25, in incomes for communities in need. In Honduras, he directed private sector engagement projects with a Fortune 5 company to increase the sustainability of the life-saving medical work of the non-profit organization Central American Medical Outreach. Pelletier has extensive public speaking experience and has presented at numerous conferences and events including the World's Greatest Problem Solvers Conference and the keynote address for the Ron Burton Training Village Boston Marathon Kickoff Dinner. He graduated from Methodist University in North Carolina with a degree in Business Administration and is also a graduate of Bishop Stang High School and the Leadership SouthCoastProgram. He volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors for Leadership SouthCoast, the New Bedford Education Foundation and Missions for Humanity. He is a member of the New Bedford Economic Development Council and volunteers for the Ron Burton Training Village each summer. Pelletier was a nominee for the 214 and 215 SouthCoast Emerging Leader Award. Former CEOs Name Term Ms. Caroline Paradis Sept Mr. Joseph Parisi July Mar 211 Staff Information Full Time Staff Part Time Staff Volunteers Contractors Retention Rate % Staff Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black Asian American/Pacific Islander 9

10 Caucasian 3 Hispanic/Latino Native American/American Indian Other Staff Demographics - Gender Male Female Unspecified 1 2 Formal Evaluations CEO Formal Evaluation CEO/Executive Formal Evaluation Frequency Senior Management Formal Evaluation Senior Management Formal Evaluation Frequency NonManagement Formal Evaluation Non Management Formal Evaluation Frequency Annually N/A N/A Annually Plans & Policies Organization has a Fundraising Plan? Organization has a Strategic Plan? Years Strategic Plan Considers Date Strategic Plan Adopted Aug 214 Does your organization have a Business Continuity of Operations Plan? Management Succession Plan? Organization Policy and Procedures Nondiscrimination Policy Whistleblower Policy Document Destruction Policy Directors and Officers Insurance Policy Registration Permit? Under Development Under Development 2 No No Exempt Exempt Collaborations Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts is pleased to collaborate with other community 1

11 organizations in an effort to provide more educational opportunities for our young people. We have actively partnered with organizations such as UMass Dartmouth, the STEM Networks of Southeastern MA and New Bedford, as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Wareham to provide additional learning opportunities to students. We have also worked with the Greater New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership to bring the JA Job Shadow program to sophomores at New Bedford and BMC Durfee high schools. 11

12 Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair Mr. Nathan Araujo Company Affiliation Advance Career Services Term Sept 216 to Aug 218 Board Members Name Affiliation Status Mr. Michael Abdur-Rahman Coastal Financial Voting Mr. Nathan Araujo R4L Management Voting Mr. Timothy Burke Fall River Housing Authority Voting Mr. Robert Fregault Carl's Collision Voting Mr. Kim Frink Invest Financial Corp. Voting Mr. Robert Gauthier retired Voting Ms. Susan Marques Citizens Bank Voting Mr. Willitts Mendonca Webster Bank Voting Mr. Vernon Miles Residential Mortgage Services Voting Mr. Gregory O'Donnell BayCoast Bank Voting Mr. Nicholas Palowski CliftonLarsonAllen Voting Mr. Michael Patacao Bristol County Savings Bank Voting Ms. Christine Perry Santander Bank Voting Mr. Andrew Rodrigues Webster Bank Voting Ms. Patty Sands Acushnet Company Voting Ms. Maureen Sullivan retired Voting Mr. Wayne Swenson BayCoast Bank Voting Ms. Amie Vieira BayCoast Bank Voting Mr. Timothy Wenger Partridge Snow & Hahn, LLP Voting Ms. Amy Winn-Blier SouthCoast Health Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 1 Asian American/Pacific Islander 1 Caucasian 14 Hispanic/Latino Native American/American Indian Other Portuguese - 4 Board Demographics - Gender 12

13 Male Female Unspecified 14 6 Board Information Board Term Lengths Number of Full Board Meetings Annually Written Board Selection Criteria? Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Percentage Making Monetary Contributions Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions Constituency Includes Client Representation 3 6 1% 65% No 13

14 Financials Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Start July 1, 216 Fiscal Year End June 3, 217 Projected Revenue $235,. Projected Expenses $23,. Endowment? No Spending Policy N/A Credit Line? Reserve Fund? No Months Reserve Fund Covers Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year Total Revenue $256,538 $218,414 $235,948 Total Expenses $23,578 $218,45 $23,496 Revenue Sources Fiscal Year Foundation and Corporation $11,247 $86,322 $12,27 Contributions Government Contributions $5, $ $ Federal State Local Unspecified $5, Individual Contributions $4,486 $6,168 $8,724 Indirect Public Support Earned Revenue Investment Income, Net of Losses $28 $28 $18 Membership Dues Special Events $125,23 $17,238 $96,8 Revenue In-Kind $2,574 $18,658 $28,136 Other

15 Expense Allocation Fiscal Year Program Expense $175,686 $169,136 $154,396 Administration Expense $15,72 $14,527 $14,151 Fundraising Expense $39,82 $34,742 $34,949 Payments to Affiliates Total Revenue/Total Expenses Program Expense/Total Expenses 76% 77% 76% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 17% 17% 17% Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year Total Assets $82,232 $61,58 $65,653 Current Assets $79,79 $57,691 $61,362 Long-Term Liabilities $ $ $ Current Liabilities $13,974 $18,76 $23,364 Total Net Assets $68,258 $42,298 $42,289 Short Term Solvency Fiscal Year Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets % % % Top Funding Sources Fiscal Year Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Horace A. Moses $2, Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Rodgers Family Foundation $15, Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Island Foundation $15, Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign? No Comments Foundation Staff Comments Financial summary data in the charts and graphs above are per the organization's audited financials. Created Copyright 218 The Boston Foundation 15