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PO BOX 249
Columbia Falls ME 04623-0249
Columbia Falls ME | IRS ruling year: 2018 | EIN: 20-8362270
The Organization coordinates the placement of wreaths on the headstones of veterans in all 50 states to remember our fallen US veterans, honor those who serve, and t ... (More)
The Organization coordinates the placement of wreaths on the headstones of veterans in all 50 states to remember our fallen US veterans, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom. (Less)
Needs Improvement
This charity's score is 70%, earning it a Two-Star rating.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 85% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 5% 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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Wreaths Across America is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
Wreaths Across America has earned a 65% 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 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 16/20 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 16/20 - 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 - undefined - 0/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - undefined - 0/20 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 - Listed - 3/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 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 - Listed - 3/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 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 - 130.14% - 0/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 130.14% - 0/15 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 - 87.30% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 87.30% - 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 2020
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 that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2) (BMF foundation code: 16)
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 (Wreaths Across America) or EIN (208362270) in the 'Search Term' field.
Not Currently Scored
Wreaths Across America 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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Wreaths Across America reported its largest program on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
The orgnanization coordinates wreath placement with several agencies nation wide working with other nonprofit organizations to spread its message of Remember, Honor, Teach.. The organizations largestp ... (More)
The orgnanization coordinates wreath placement with several agencies nation wide working with other nonprofit organizations to spread its message of Remember, Honor, Teach.. The organizations largestproject is Arlington National Cemetary, but the work also includes cemneteries in all 50 states. (Less)
Wreaths Across America has earned a 100% 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.
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Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 ptsConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 pts
100% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. 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.
Active duty military, veterans and their families. Additionally, Gold Star Star families - those who have lost a loved one while in service to our country -- are our core constituent.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Community meetings or town halls, Other means
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, Other means
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
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
We believe asking for feedback allows our volunteers, supporters and donors to have a voice in our growth. Every January, we conduct an online survey to our core volunteers asking for feedback, and then share that collective feedback in our monthly newsletter address areas for possible improvement, or highlighting the solution that may already exist but they were not aware of. We have seen the positive impact this can have on a person when they feel as though their opinion has been heard and in fact, matters.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
Our core volunteers - those who coordinate participating locations and sponsorship groups - are asked and encouraged to use our Manage Pages as a dashboard for data collection, messaging and overall communication with the organization. This platform is robust and has been difficult for less-technology savvy volunteers to navigate. As a result of survey feedback and requests for more support and simpler interface, we worked with our web developer to make some significant changes to the interface to help simplify the user experience. Additionally, we've added monthly onboarding webinars and video/printed step by step instructions for users to get to know the system. And most recently, we've expanded our team of regional liaison, hiring more staff to allow more hands on training where needed.
Equity Practices - No Data Available - UnscoredEquity Practices - No Data Available - Unscored
This organization has not provided information regarding the Equity Practices it is presently implementing. As such, the organization has not earned a score on this metric. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Wreaths Across America 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
The Organization coordinates the placement of wreaths on the headstones of veterans in all 50 states to remember our fallen US veterans, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Wreaths Across America is committed to teaching younger generations about the value of their freedoms and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms.
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: Continue to grow out boots on the ground missions - gathering communities, families, and children to participate in National Wreaths Across America Day.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Continue to expand our National Museum and programs, such as the Veteran Remembrance Tree Program.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Rallying local communities together to host and visit the Mobile Traveling Museum Exhibit (MEE) to teach and share the mission of Wreaths Across America.
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
We have expanded and added much-needed roles to assist our staff and teams while offering new advancement opportunities, training opportunities, and programs.
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
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
We have a very active Board of Directors and Leadership Team that collaboratively work together to spread the mission.
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.
WAA would like to thank the dedicated volunteers in every state for overcoming the many obstacles presented in 2020 & 2021 as they remained focused on the mission. From the volunteer location coordinators working with local officials on modified wreath placement plans, to the sponsorship group leaders who have a passion for making sure that our nation's veterans are honored each and every year. Every $15 sponsorship ensures that a fresh balsam veterans' wreath is placed on veteran headstones as a gift of respect and appreciation. For centuries, fresh evergreens have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living tribute renewed annually. WAA believes the tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active duty military and their families and when volunteers place that wreath they say the name of a veteran out loud, ensuring that they live on in our memories.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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