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2531 JACKSON AVE 188
Ann Arbor MI 48103-3818
Ann Arbor MI | IRS ruling year: 2006 | EIN: 20-4814985
GIRLS GROUP EMPOWERS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN TO ACHIEVE EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY BY GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND BECOMING FIRST- GENERATION COLLEGE GR ... (More)
GIRLS GROUP EMPOWERS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN TO ACHIEVE EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY BY GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND BECOMING FIRST- GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES. GIRLS GROUP PROVIDES YEAR ROUND PROGRAMMING AND MENTORING TO DEVELOP CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS, INCLUDING THE DESIRE AND ABILITY TO MENTOR OTHERS. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 94%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Girls Group is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Girls Group has earned a 94% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2019, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 20/20 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 20/20 - 25/25 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Missing - 0/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Missing - 0/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Missing - 0/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Missing - 0/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 3/3 ptsWebsite - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 0.00% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 0.00% - 15/15 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 80.82% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 80.82% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2019
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Girls Group) or EIN (204814985) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Girls Group reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
Administrative Capacity
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Initially, donations to our organization declined in 2020. We applied for and received the PPP loan and thus were able to keep our full-time staff employed throughout the pandemic and stay on mission by serving our participants.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Due to social distancing, we had to cease our in-person programming. We immediately pivoted, and launched remote programming in April, 2020, to help our participants remain connected in a positive affirming, fun and educational manner.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We worked closely with participants and their families to help them access computers and hotspots, so that they could keep up with school assignments, and interact with their teachers. We continued to support them with their emotional needs, and connected them and their families to essential resources. We helped them continue to focus on both academics and self-care, and to meet school requirements during the challenging times, and graduate on-time from middle school, high school, and college.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Despite the dramatic changes and hardship, Girls Group showed up and inspired every day. Our staff strengthened the relationships we have with families of our participants. In June, 2021 we returned to in-person sessions, and doubled the summer programming that we offer. This fall will prove to be a time of "readiness and recovery" and we are ready and proud to continue making a lasting difference in the lives of our participants.
Not Currently Scored
Girls Group cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Girls Group reported its largest program on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
MENTORING YOUNG WOMEN FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION. OVER 300 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OVER 25 YOUNG ADULTS HAVE COMPLETED COLLEGE DEGREES.
Girls Group has earned a 90% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableConstituent Feedback - Data Available - UnscoredConstituent Feedback - Data Available - Unscored
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. However, it did not respond to one or more survey questions, and therefore is not eligible for a score on this metric. (View our beacon methodology.) Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Girls Group is proud to serve young women in Washtenaw County who reside in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas. We currently serve participants at 5 middle school and 5 high school sites throughout the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti community. Girls Group serves young women who are economically disadvantaged and from racially diverse backgrounds: -61% of school-age participants qualify for free or reduced lunch -79% of participants live in a household with an annual income under $50,000 -89% of participants identify as a person of color
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Note: The organization reported no challenges faced.
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
Note: The organization did not respond to this question.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 90/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 90/100 pts
100% of beacon score
This organization's score of 90 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 7 Equity Practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Equity Practices (3/7) | |
|---|---|
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Equity Policies and Procedures (4/7) | |
|---|---|
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Girls Group has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
GIRLS GROUP EMPOWERS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN TO ACHIEVE EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY BY GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND BECOMING FIRST- GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES. GIRLS GROUP PROVIDES YEAR ROUND PROGRAMMING AND MENTORING TO DEVELOP CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS, INCLUDING THE DESIRE AND ABILITY TO MENTOR OTHERS.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
The vision of Girls Group is to help economically disadvantaged young women achieve self-sufficiency. The ultimate ambition is that each young woman finds their voice, defines their goals and dreams, and moves forward in the world with pride and self-confidence.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Holistic programming which includes academic readiness, social-emotional readiness, financial empowerment, community service learning
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Goal Two: Middle school expansion to offer services for 6th-8th grade
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: College & Career Prep program expansion to include services for high school 11th graders
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Two individuals on our leadership team are currently enrolled in the Leadership Deli training offered by NEW.org.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Raising Awareness
Community Building
There are 15 engaged, educated, and passionate Board of Directors members who are involved in development, strategy, and community awareness. For 19 years now, the Board of Directors has ensured that the participant population, programming, and funding have grown consistently and intentionally to meet short and long term organizational goals.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Girls Group is working towards a partnership with Washtenaw Community College (WCC) to provide case management and mentoring for Girls Group participants attending WCC. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) at the University of Michigan and Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) have also provided internship opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in projects with Girls Group. Girls Group is also an active member of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY). Girls Group partners with other nonprofits to provide quality programming, enrichments and workshops, resources, and referrals for crisis and intervention services. Girls Group works with the following organizations: -Staff Trainings & Participant Referrals: Ozone House, Ele’s Place, Friends In Deed, Student Advocacy Center -Participant Workshops & Events: Growing Hope, Food Gatherers, A2 Meals on Wheels, Dawn Farms, Embrace Our Differences SE Michigan, Project Management Institute Huron Valley Chapter, and MSU 4-H We value the voices of community representatives, leaders, and beneficiaries. We are committed to working collaboratively, sharing perspectives, and learning from others in a way that enhances our relationships and the services we provide.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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