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www.friendsoftherainforest.org
1324 CLARKSON CLAYTON ROAD 312
Ellisville MO 63011-2145
Ellisville MO | IRS ruling year: 2002 | EIN: 30-0572051
Friends of the Rainforest (FCER) is committed to our mission of educating and inspiring children and adults to take action to protect, support, and expand the Rainfo ... (More)
Friends of the Rainforest (FCER) is committed to our mission of educating and inspiring children and adults to take action to protect, support, and expand the Rainforest. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 99%, 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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest 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 2019, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 6/6 - 35/35 ptsBoard Composition - 6/6 - 35/35 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 - N/A - 0/0 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - N/A - 0/0 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 - 5/5 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 5/5 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 - 5/5 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 5/5 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 - 5/5 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Listed - 5/5 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 - 5/5 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 5/5 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 - 5/5 ptsWebsite - Listed - 5/5 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 - 2.44% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 2.44% - 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 - 78.11% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 78.11% - 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 (Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest) or EIN (300572051) 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.
Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Administrative Capacity
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
We saw an increase in the dollar amount of grant requests due to a decrease in revenue at our sister organization.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
We had to adapt our education programming to operate virtually and through our take-home boxed lesson kits. Our EcoTours were put on a fully hiatus from March 2020 to February 2022.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We hosted a number of different virtual events, including our annual Trivia Night. We adapted our education programming to operate virtually and through our take-home boxed lesson kits.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Our boxed lesson kits, as well as our virtual lesson option in order to reach schools outside of the St. Louis area.
Not Currently Scored
Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest 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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Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest reported its three largest programs on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
Ecotravel: FCER expanded a scientific study abroad curriculum to engage students in learning about science, peace, tropical ecology, conservation of the environment and forests role and took 60 studen ... (More)
Ecotravel: FCER expanded a scientific study abroad curriculum to engage students in learning about science, peace, tropical ecology, conservation of the environment and forests role and took 60 students and adults including 2 schools on scientific study trips. FCER continued this program in which it lead 4 trips total with 41 children and 19 adjust in open and special arrangement trips to the forest where participants have an opportunity to experience the forest by staying at its field stations, learn about the rainforest through guided interpretive hikes and wildlife observation with experienced naturalists, and learn about Costa Rican history, culture, and cuisine. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
Conservation: FCER provides grants to support, protect, and expand the Childrens Eternal Rainforest and surrounding region.
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
Education and Outreach/Awareness: FCER expanded a scientific study abroad curriculum to engage students in learning about science, peace, tropical ecology, conservation of the environment and forests ... (More)
Education and Outreach/Awareness: FCER expanded a scientific study abroad curriculum to engage students in learning about science, peace, tropical ecology, conservation of the environment and forests role in all of these making it available globally online (Less)
Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest has earned a 93% 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
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.
We serve local schools, homeschool groups, and other community members with our education programming. Our EcoTours program serves schools and families all over the world.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.)
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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?
Our staff, Our board
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?
The choices we make regarding our programming feel more collaborative. By taking feedback from our community, we have strengthened our relationship with them and feel more confident in changes we make.
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, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
We have been adding photo descriptions to our website in order to better accommodate blind users.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 90/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 90/100 pts
70% 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. | |
Friends of the Childrens Eternal Rainforest 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
Friends of the Rainforest (FCER) is committed to our mission of educating and inspiring children and adults to take action to protect, support, and expand the Rainforest.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Friends of the Rainforest's vision is a healthy and sustainable world where we no longer have to fight for the protection of the world's Rainforests and the incredible biodiversity that they hold. We are motivated by our mission because we don't want Rainforest education to become a history lesson.
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: To expand our reach, engage more kids and adults across the world, and connect them to our Rainforest resources and EcoTours.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: To adapt and grow our programming through an equity and anti-racist lens. To create greater accessibility in our programs and resources.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: To implement a scholarship program to help alleviate the costs of experiencing the Rainforest. To make our EcoTour programs (and other conservation programs) accessible regardless of cost or class.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Our leadership has attended United Way’s Volunteer Management Training Series, learning how to more effectively organize and manage our volunteer program. Additionally, we are part of the 2022 Out-of-School-Time STEM Programs Community of Practice, hosted by STEMSTL, a program to explore the intersection of quality and anti-racism with the goal of improving STEM programming for youth in the St. Louis region.
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 number of different partnerships and networks we have joined. You can find more information here: www.friendsoftherainforest.org/partners We are active on social media and engage in other marketing activities like radio and local news features. We invest in community building and training (as mentioned above). We have hosted many presentations at local universities.
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.
Due to Covid-19, we had to adapt our education programming quite a bit. In 2021, we were able to reach over 1,400 kids, although we were unable to visit any schools during the year. Instead, we found new ways to engage with our community, utilizing Zoom lessons, take-home lesson kits (to help reach students who may not have access to WiFi or a computer), as well as new partnerships with organizations like Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants to reach new audiences.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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