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Bethesda MD | IRS ruling year: 2006 | EIN: 36-4567583
Organization Mission
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 to provide enhanced support to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their caregivers and famili ... (More)
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 to provide enhanced support to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their caregivers and families during their medical recovery and reintegration into civilian life. Our Crossroads Program provides housing and transportation to families who are visiting their wounded, ill or injured service member. We provide rental cars, hotel stays, and fully furnished apartments to keep families together during the recovery process. Our Keystone Program pays special attention to the needs of military caregivers. We provide to these special people sanctuary, skills, and stability through monthly respite and social events, and educational and life skills training. Our Engagement Program attempts to alleviate the boredom of medical rehabilitation by providing special events and access to local sporting and cultural events in the Washington DC area. Donors also work with us to provide sports, cultural event and other assistance. (Less)
Good
This charity's score is 89%, earning it a Three-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, weighted as follows: 33% Accountability & Finance, 50% Impact & Results, 8% 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.
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Results. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
| Date Published | Overall Rating |
| 6/1/2022 |  |
| 12/1/2020 | |
| 10/1/2019 | |
| 5/1/2019 | |
| 7/1/2018 | |
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2023
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No CreditMajority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members10 out of 10 points Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 19 independent members10 out of 10 points Independent Board Size - 19 independent members10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee20 out of 20 points Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee20 out of 20 points
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 |
| $2 million or higher and 40% or higher donor support | Expected to complete an audit and have an audit oversight committee |
| $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
Material Diversion of Assets - None20 out of 20 points Material Diversion of Assets - None20 out of 20 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditWebsite Listed on Tax Form - Listed5 out of 5 points Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS 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
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS 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
Whistleblower Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points Whistleblower Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS 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
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed5 out of 5 points Document Retention and Destruction - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS 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
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes5 out of 5 points Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS 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
Tax Form Distributed to Board Before Filing - Listed5 out of 5 points Tax Form Distributed to Board Before Filing - Listed5 out of 5 points
Providing copies of the IRS Form 990 to the governing body prior to filing is considered a best practice, as it allows for thorough review by the individuals charged with overseeing the organization. The Form 990 asks the charity to disclose whether or not it has followed this best practice.
Loans to/from Officers - Missing5 out of 5 points Loans to/from Officers - Missing5 out of 5 points
Making loans to related parties, such as key officers, staff, or Board members, is not standard practice in the sector as it diverts the charity's funds away from its charitable mission and can lead to real and perceived conflict-of-interest problems.
The IRS requires charities to disclose on their Form 990 any loans to or from current and former officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and other "disqualified persons." Some state laws go so far as to prohibit loans to board members and officers.
Although employees and trustees are permitted to make loans to charities, this practice can also result in real and/or perceived conflict of interest problems for the charity. Furthermore, it is problematic because it indicates that the organization is not financially secure. Our analysts check to see if any loans have been made.
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed5 out of 5 points Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed5 out of 5 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditLiabilities to Assets: Ratio - 3.17%25 out of 25 points Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 3.17%25 out of 25 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 88.47%25 out of 25 points Program Expense: Ratio - 88.47%25 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Efficiency: Ratio - $0.0725 out of 25 points Fundraising Efficiency: Ratio - $0.0725 out of 25 points
The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. We calculate the charity's average expenses and average contributions over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Working Capital: Ratio - 0.90 years25 out of 25 points Working Capital: Ratio - 0.90 years25 out of 25 points
Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed IRS Form 990. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. We calculate the charity's average total expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
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
Gina Harrow, Executive Director
$174,384
David W Heiser, Chief Financial Officer
$52,297
Vito A Pampalona, Chair
Compensation not entered
John Vollmer, Vice Chair
Compensation not entered
Lisa Slater, Treasurer
Compensation not entered
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2023
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
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 (Yellow Ribbon Fund) or EIN (364567583) in the 'Search Term' field.
Score
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
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Program
Crossroads Program
Activities
The nonprofit provides financial assistance to patients with medical conditions.
Program Type
Financial Assistance for Medical Patients
Beneficiaries Served
Veterans, military personnel, families
Program Geography
United States -- disabled veterans and their families and caregivers come from across the United States for medical treatment and rehabilitation at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda MD. DoD and VA do not cover travel, lodging, and living expenses.
Time Period of Data
3/1/22 to 2/28/23
Outcomes: Changes in the lives of those served by a nonprofit. They can be caused by the nonprofit.
Costs: The money spent by a nonprofit and its partners and beneficiaries.
Impact: Outcome caused by a nonprofit relative to its cost.
Cost-effectiveness: A judgment as to whether the cost was a good use of resources to cause the outcome.
Outcome Metric
Increase in income for a patient with medical conditions
Outcome Data Source
Ratings are based on data the nonprofit itself collects on its work. We use the most recent year with sufficient data. Typically, this data allows us to calculate direct changes in participants' lives, such as increased income.
Outcome data collected during the program. The nonprofit submitted data on the dollar value of all financial assistance provided to patients, which we use to calculate the additional income received.
Method for Attributing Outcomes
We don't know if the observed changes were caused by the nonprofit's program or something else happening at the same time (e.g., a participant got a raise). To determine causation, we take the outcomes we observe and subtract an estimate of the outcomes that would have happened even without the program (i.e., counterfactual outcomes).
We estimate the dollar amount of financial assistance attributable to the nonprofit by comparing the financial assistance given by the nonprofit to the financial assistance that would have been provided in the absence of the nonprofit (the “counterfactual”). In this case, we estimate the counterfactual to be zero based on two assumptions. First, we assume there is functionally no upper limit to the amount of cash transfers that continue to be valuable to patients as they are far from reaching the point of diminishing marginal returns, such that aid provided by one nonprofit does not displace aid provided by another. Second, we assume that nonprofits work independently and do not coordinate the provision of aid to the same patient. As a result, all aid provided by the nonprofit to patients with medical conditions can be directly attributable to the nonprofit.
Cost Data Source
After estimating the program's outcomes, we need to determine how much it cost to achieve those outcomes. All monetary costs are counted, whether they are borne by a nonprofit service deliverer or by the nonprofit’s public and private partners.
Program cost data reported by the nonprofit. Partner and beneficiary costs reported by the nonprofit or estimated by Charity Navigator.
Cost Calculation
$948,252 program costs + $0 partner costs + $0 beneficiary costs = $948,252 total costs
We calculate impact, defined as the change in outcomes attributable to a program divided by the cost to achieve those outcomes.
Impact Calculation
$948,252 total costs / $699,421 of financial assistance provided = roughly $1.36 provides a dollar's worth of financial assistance to a patient. [2021 USD]
Benchmark for Rating
Impact & Results scores of financial assistance to patients programs are based on income generated relative to cost. Programs receive an Impact & Results score of 100 if they increase income for a recipient by more than $2 for every $1 spent and a score of 80 if income increases by more than $1.25 for every $1 spent. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 65.
Determination
Cost-effective
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditConstituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points Constituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. The methodology leveraged for Constituent Feedback is based on The Core Principles of Constituent Feedback, which describes listening and responding well to feedback. Charity Navigator participates in a consortium with other feedback experts and leading nonprofit infrastructure platforms to drive Constituent Feedback's advancement, promotion, and data collection.
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
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
Equity Practices - Data Available81/100 points Equity Practices - Data Available81/100 points
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 81 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 5 Equity Practices.
This assessment demonstrates the importance of implementing practices that contribute positively to an organization's overall culture, both internally and with respect to community engagement. Furthermore, equity centered frameworks and similar approaches have drawn much attention from donors, experts, and sector leaders who underscore its value to the nonprofit's overall health and capacity for mission success. Currently, the Equity Strategies Checklist assessment consists of practices and policies that promote racial equity in their operations and programs (per the Equity Strategies checklist administered by Candid). As we refine our DEI assessment, Charity Navigator partners with DEI consultants and field experts to broaden and deepen this work.
| Equity Practices (2/7) | |
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 (3/7) | |
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. | |
Score
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 CreditMission 10/10 points Mission 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 to provide enhanced support to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their caregivers and families during their medical recovery and reintegration into civilian life. Our Crossroads Program provides housing and transportation to families who are visiting their wounded, ill or injured service member. We provide rental cars, hotel stays, and fully furnished apartments to keep families together during the recovery process. Our Keystone Program pays special attention to the needs of military caregivers. We provide to these special people sanctuary, skills, and stability through monthly respite and social events, and educational and life skills training. Our Engagement Program attempts to alleviate the boredom of medical rehabilitation by providing special events and access to local sporting and cultural events in the Washington DC area. Donors also work with us to provide sports, cultural event and other assistance.
Vision 10/10 points Vision 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Aspire to become the most highly regarded and recognized non-profit veterans support organization (V
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals 20/20 points Goals 20/20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Identify YRF Organizational Requirements, Priorities, and Metrics
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Goal Two: Develop YRF Comprehensive Programs to Address Veterans & Family Needs
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Connect YRF to communities and nationally recognized VSOs to become a nationally recognized VSO
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Leadership Development 15/15 points Leadership Development 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
As our senior leadership team has several years of experience, we focus on staying abreast of trends, new challenges, and other issues in the nonprofit world. We participate in the Maryland Nonprofits leadership forum. Our executive director receives ongoing mentoring from an experienced nonprofit board member. Our CFO participates in the Maryland Nonprofits CFO forum where financial issues are discussed and best practices are shared. As a small organization, our leadership skills are constantly tested. Internal discussions, networking, research, and mentoring all help to continually improve our organization.
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Raising Awareness
Community Building
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
We are a small organization with six or less full-time staff. Our partnerships allow us to expand the services we deliver to our constituents. We participate in monthly forums sponsored by Maryland Nonprofits and the Montgomery County MD Veterans Collaborative. We attend conferences hosted by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. We raise awareness of our mission and cause through social media, networking, and empowering our board members to promote YRF within their business networks. We partner with the Bob Woodruff Foundation to bring a wider range of services to our caregivers and their families. We have a partnership with Rose Health and MyVetAdvisor to provide premium remote mental health services to our caregivers and their disabled veteran. These partners provide the expertise, staffing, and services that is well beyond our expertise and we have approximately 300 of our program recipients signed up. Board members are given fresh marketing tools to help with fundraising outreach.
Adaptability Story 30/30 points Adaptability Story 30/30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
With the War on Terror losing public attention and the departure of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, it has become increasingly more difficult to sell our mission. The demand for our services has not slowed as service members get injured during military service or as previously disabled veterans continue to face the need for lifelong medical treatment and therapy for war wounds, service-related injuries or illnesses. We adjusted in part by working with a vendor to examine and help us improve our branding, messages, and other outreach. We are building a deeper understanding of our donors as we could not continue our mission without them. And we have been able to find new supporters who not only donate but also host their own fundraising events on our behalf. For example, students and staff at a high school district in Michigan raised over $70,000 over the past two years and parishioners at a Virginia church raised over $21,000 on our behalf over the past three years. The success of our mission depends in great part on our ability to meet the needs of our recipients, meaningful communications to donors, and our ability to build strong partnerships.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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