High Alert Institute Inc.
High Alert Institute Inc.
4800 BEN HILL TRL
Lake Wales FL 33898-5557
Lake Wales FL | IRS ruling year: 2011 | EIN: 27-5078437
Mission not available
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4800 BEN HILL TRL
Lake Wales FL 33898-5557
Lake Wales FL | IRS ruling year: 2011 | EIN: 27-5078437
Mission not available
Great
This charity's score is 100%, 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!
High Alert Institute Inc. has earned a 100% 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 2021, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
Learn more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
No Data Available
Revenue and expense data is not available for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last six years.
No Data Available
Key Persons data is currently unavailable for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last six years.
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 (High Alert Institute Inc.) or EIN (275078437) 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.
High Alert Institute Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
Staffing
Grants Received
Death of our Board Co-Chairperson
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
The COVID-19 Pandemic created challenges and opportunities for the High Alert Institute, its members and the world. Most of our Board members are frontline healthcare workers. One of our board members died of COVID-19 after he opted to work in an Emergency Room in an underserved community even after that ER ran out of PPE for staff. As a result of the frontline healthcare and research healthcare responsibilities, the institute operated without fundraisers or donations from outside the Institute family.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
In the first six month of the pandemic, The High Alert Institute in partnership with Medical and Regulatory Affairs Specialists, LLC reviewed the majority of the antiviral repurposing literature in an attempt to identify an existing licensed drug combination effective against COVID-19. The Institute and MRAS prepared an article for publication and developed a protocol for facilities to use when administering the most effective drug combinations. The Institute found that no single drug available as of June 2020 was effective against COVID-19. A WHO clinical trial published in November 2020 would prove the institute correct.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
Fortunately, 2020 and 2021 saw no major storms resulting in the need for a fish rescue in FEMA Region 4. However, the fish in our community tank laid eggs yielding 200+ hatchlings that survived to adult size. Dubbed the "KOIVID" fish on social media, these 200+ animals are now part of the High Alert Institute family and occupy both 1000 gallon isolation tanks as well as the community tank.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
The Post-COVID era will bring exciting changes. The Post-COVID era will bring exciting changes. The High Alert Institute recognizes that its prior focus on Healthcare Disaster Education (including pandemic preparedness) is over. Post-Pandemic, every healthcare worker has "been there, done that" when it comes to pandemic and disaster. Our partners it the animal wellness and conservation community however have had the realization that they need more disaster education to be truly disaster ready. In 2022, the Institute will pivot to a post-pandemic approach to fulfilling its Vision and Mission. This pivot will introduce us to a new audience and allow us to focus all our efforts on disaster ready animal caregivers. Scaly is the New Cuddly!!!
Not Currently Scored
High Alert Institute Inc. 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.
Learn More
No 990 Program Data Found
High Alert Institute Inc. 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.
Learn more
30% 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.
The High Alert Institute serves several client bases defined in our published promises: Animal owners, animal caretakers, animal shelters, and animal welfare organizations. Freshwater non-native exotic and ornamental aquatic pet rescues and shelters in North America. Researchers and developers working in healthcare, behavioral health, artificial intelligence, and disaster sciences. People, pets, and the planet in the wake of disasters. Persons responding to agricultural or animal care and welfare disasters, including the communities that they serve. animal care, rescue, conservation, and welfare. Homes, small businesses, agriculture, and animal care and welfare facilities People, pets, and the planet within a one nature/one health paradigm.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Case management notes, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email, 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 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, Other means
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 have expanded out projects4good and focused our All Hazards Disaster Readiness free eduction. Our Website traffic is up over 300% each week and our Partners4Good are referring new partners every week.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
We have created numerous Projects4Good in cooperation with Partners4Good. Our volunteer subject matter experts (Experts4Good) provide Partners4Good advice and guidance for expanding the Impact of their products and services.
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 14 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 (7/7) | |
---|---|
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 (7/7) | |
---|---|
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. |
High Alert Institute Inc. 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
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
The High Alert Institute helps those not served by municipal, local, county, state, regional or federal programs/agencies to be Disaster Ready.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
The High Alert Institute, Inc. envisions a world where all people, families, communities, businesses and organizations are disaster ready.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: We will support and promote Disaster Education, Planning, Preparedness and, when possible, provide Disaster Response and Recovery for animal owners, animal caretakers and animal welfare organization.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: We will support, promote and when possible, provide rescue & shelter for freshwater non-native exotic and ornamental aquatic pets.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: We will support, promote and when possible, provide opportunities for encounters with freshwater non-native exotic aquatic pets for special needs individuals and terminally ill children.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Despite COVID-19 response activities, our Executive Director and our Founders have engaged with 501c3 management experts through programs hosted by SBA, South Carolina Community College Association and private vendors.
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
Policy Advocacy
We have relationships with local, state and national aquaculture organizations, local and state Emergency Management, State of Florida Agricultural Response Teams, animal rescue, botanical gardens, aquariums, aquaponic operations and ornamental fish owners. We have existing relationships with Make A Wish Foundation and Give Kids The World. The Florida State Agricultural Response Team (FL-SART) as well as county and state EOCs have all been very supportive as we are the only freshwater non-native aquatic pet rescue in FEMA Region 4 (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee & Kentucky).
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Most of our Board members are frontline healthcare workers. One of our board members died of COVID-19 after he opted to work in an Emergency Room in an underserved community even after that ER ran out of PPE for staff. In the first six month of the pandemic, Thee High Alert Institute in partnership with Medical and Regulatory Affairs Specialists, LLC reviewed the majority of the antiviral repurposing literature in an attempt to identify an existing licensed drug combination effective against COVID-19. The Institute and MRAS prepared an article for publication and developed a protocol for facilities to use when administering the most effective drug combinations. The Institute found that no single drug available as of June 2020 was effective against COVID-19. A WHO clinical trial published in November 2020 would prove the institute correct. Fortunately, 2020 and 2021 saw no major storms resulting in the need for a fish rescue in FEMA Region 4. However, the fish in our community tank laid eggs yielding 200+ hatchlings that survived to adult size. Dubbed the "KOIVID" fish on social media, these 200+ animals are now part of the High Alert Institute family and occupy both 1000 gallon isolation tanks as well as the community tank. The Institute recognizes that its prior focus on Healthcare Disaster Education (including pandemic preparedness) is over. Post-Pandemic, every healthcare worker has "been there, done that" when it comes to pandemic and disaster. Our partners it the animal wellness and conservation community however have had the realization that they need more disaster education to be truly disaster ready. In 2022, the Institute will pivot to a post-pandemic approach to fulfilling its Vision and Mission. This pivot will introduce us to a new audience and allow us to focus all our efforts on disaster ready animal caregivers.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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