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La Cygne KS | IRS ruling year: 1979 | EIN: 43-1154205
We bring kids outside to learn and grow together, transforming summer into a season of learning, youth development, and outdoor adventure for low-income Kansas City ... (More)
We bring kids outside to learn and grow together, transforming summer into a season of learning, youth development, and outdoor adventure for low-income Kansas City area youth.
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Good
This charity's score is 80%, 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 entirely from a single beacon score: 100% Accountability & Finance. 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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc. is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc. has earned a 80% 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 - 13/13 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 13/13 - 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 - 3.33% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 3.33% - 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 - 78.36% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 78.36% - 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:
Private school (BMF activity code: 046)
School, college, trade school, etc. (BMF activity code: 030)
Other instruction and training (BMF activity code: 149)
Foundation Status:
School 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) (BMF foundation code: 11)
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 (Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc.) or EIN (431154205) 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.
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
In 2020, Wildwood lost all earned revenue as a result of ceasing both summer camp and field trip programming. Additionally, Wildwood lost individual fundraising revenue as a result of needing to cancel the annual fundraising event. To maintain the organization's financial health and retain year-round staff, Wildwood applied for and received federal, state, and local government funding, and staff provided contract labor to another local non-profit organization.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Due to COVID-19, we made the difficult decision to cancel camp sessions in 2020. We were able to create and distribute outdoor-minded, STEM focused activity boxes to campers, and we produced more than 10 videos offering ways to get outside while maintaining social distance. In 2021, Wildwood ran camps at half capacity to maintain social distancing. To serve additional campers, Wildwood piloted a small day camp at a secondary location in Kansas City.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We shifted resources from summer camp to remote and virtual programs in 2020, and to a day camp pilot program in 2021. We offered digital and mail programs to campers (including activity boxes and videos), and hosted a fully virtual annual fundraiser in June 2021.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We plan to keep several innovations in place permanently. First, we are using Zoom and other video conferencing software in our hiring process; this removes distance as a barrier to employment for seasonal staff. Next, we are offering virtual options to participate in fundraising events. Third, we are offering ways to stay connected with camp year-round, including in-person and virtual events. Last, we will retain many of our updated cleaning and sanitization procedures, as well as increased vigilance about communicable illness.
Not Currently Scored
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center 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.
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Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc. reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
THE SUMMER ADVENTURE PROGRAM IS WILDWOOD'S SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR GIRLS AND BOYS AGES 8 TO 15. SUMMER ADVENTURE ALSO INCLUDES FIND YOURSELF LEADERSHIP CAMP AND WOMEN OF WILDWOOD SUMMER ADVENTURE OFFE ... (More)
THE SUMMER ADVENTURE PROGRAM IS WILDWOOD'S SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR GIRLS AND BOYS AGES 8 TO 15. SUMMER ADVENTURE ALSO INCLUDES FIND YOURSELF LEADERSHIP CAMP AND WOMEN OF WILDWOOD SUMMER ADVENTURE OFFERS A WEEK LONG RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS CHILDREN A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO CHOOSE FROM IN A NON-COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT. THREE KEY LEANING EXPERIENCES-OVERCOMING CHALLENGES, APPLYING SCIENCE AND BUILIDNG COMMUNITY- PROVIDE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. NINE ESSENTIAL OUTCOMES ARE ACHIEVED FOR CAMPERS INCLUDING INCREASED PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, AN INTEREST IN EXPLORATION AND FRIENDSHIP SKILLS. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL PROGRAM IS A ONE TO THREE DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS FROM THE KANSAS CITY AREA.STUDENTS ARE JOINED BY THEIR TEACHERS AND ... (More)
THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL PROGRAM IS A ONE TO THREE DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS FROM THE KANSAS CITY AREA.STUDENTS ARE JOINED BY THEIR TEACHERS AND PARENTS, WHO STAY WITH THEM IN THEIR CABINS AND HELP LEA (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
FACILITY USE INCLUDES RETREATS AND REUNIONS TO USER GROUPS AND CORPORATE CHALLENGE THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE RELATED RENTAL CHARGES.
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc. cannot currently be evaluated by our Culture & Community methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its Constituent Feedback or Equity Practices strategies.
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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Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc. cannot currently be evaluated by our Leadership & Adaptability methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes.
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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Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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