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1532B DORCHESTER AVENUE
Dorchester MA 02122-3400
Dorchester MA | IRS ruling year: 2012 | EIN: 45-3302596
To help homeless and low-income multilingual women to achieve economic security through the use of their language skills and to reduce ethnic, racial, and linguistic ... (More)
To help homeless and low-income multilingual women to achieve economic security through the use of their language skills and to reduce ethnic, racial, and linguistic disparities in health care by unleashing bilingual talent into the workforce. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 90%, 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: 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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Found in Translation Inc. is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
Found in Translation Inc. has earned a 88% 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.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 7/7 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 7/7 - 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 - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 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 - 9.49% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 9.49% - 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 - 64.95% - 13/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 64.95% - 13/25 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 (Found in Translation Inc.) or EIN (453302596) 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.
Found in Translation Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Found in Translation experienced a $23,370 deficit in FY20, though it should be noted that the organization was fortunate to qualify for and receive an $87,500 forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program that year, which was used to cover a portion of payroll expenses. The loan was forgiven in August of 2021.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
We transitioned our in-person programming to be carried out online, which delayed our scheduled medical interpreter training from fall 2020 to spring 2021, and we are on track to carry out another online training in spring 2022.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
In response to the pandemic and the increased need for our program, we transitioned and adapted all our programming and operations to be carried out online. This included reconfiguring our training model to better support virtual learning, and adding additional technology skills/access supports to our supportive services. We also provided resources to alumnae in navigating changes in the interpreting industry (ex. access to remote interpreting equipment or training). In addition, we added remote interpreting options as alternatives to in-person assignments via our in-house interpreter services, providing uninterrupted direct job opportunities for our graduates.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
In response to COVID-19, we have upgraded our job placement and advanced skills training opportunities, ensuring that graduates can access remote jobs and that we can offer video and phone interpreting and translation services to our clients. In addition to holding class online, we are making other adaptations to our model to accommodate student needs and create an optimal environment for learning; offering flexibility and options for asynchronous learning time, and self-paced components that candidates can complete at hours that work for their or their family’s needs. In the years ahead we will leverage our adapted, technology-enabled program model for growth, providing training and job placement to more interpreters, and life-saving language access services to more patients.
Not Currently Scored
Found in Translation 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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Found in Translation Inc. reported its largest program on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
Accepted 35 low-income bilingual women into a 14-week medical interpreter certificate job training program, and provided ongoing career advancement services to alumnae community. Services include inte ... (More)
Accepted 35 low-income bilingual women into a 14-week medical interpreter certificate job training program, and provided ongoing career advancement services to alumnae community. Services include interpreter education (medical terminology, ethics, interpreting skills, language coaching), financial literacy, mentoring, on-site childcare, transportation assistance, job placement and career coaching. (Less)
Found in Translation 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.
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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.
We level the professional playing field for low-income bilingual women ages 18+ (the average age is 35) in the Greater Boston Area. Our program participants all self-identify as women, 49% are or have experienced homelessness in the past, and 45% are single mothers. Our alumnae represent over 50 different countries and speak 53 different languages. All participants are bilingual, and our most common languages include: Spanish, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Cape Verdean Creole.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Community meetings or town halls
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
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?
Our service model as it is today is a co-creation in partnership with the women we serve, and we continue to seek out ways to empower alumnae to further influence our programming and steer the direction of the organization. Since the beginning this has been a key facet of our program staff’s job responsibilities, recognizing that the most transformational way to support the professional journeys of the alumnae community is through connecting them to each other, and using their valuable insight to inform improvements in case management and supportive services. In the coming years, we will further manifest this value through adding alumnae to our Board of Directors, and designing a staff role exclusively devoted to mobilizing the collective voice of our alumnae community in leadership.
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, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
The driving force behind our innovative approach is our commitment to our program participants - to strengthening and empowering the community that has flourished over a decade. We strive to stay relevant to our alumnae’s evolving career aspirations through ongoing engagement, adjusting programming and supports to meet needs identified to us through formal and informal feedback. Over the past ten years, whenever our programming has improved, (for example, expanding beyond 3 major languages, strengthening our financial literacy curricula, updating our interpreter services payment structure, adding supports for remote interpreting, or formalizing our Teacher Training Track) it has been in direct response to feedback from our alumnae on their changing needs and growing ambitions.
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.
Found in Translation 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
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
Through our medical interpreter training and job placement program we: Help low-income multilingual women achieve economic security through the use of their language skills, and reduce ethnic, racial, and linguistic disparities in health care by unleashing bilingual talent into the workforce.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
A world free of racial, ethnic, and linguistic stigma offering every woman the opportunity to build a meaningful career with a livable wage and providing equitable access to high-quality health care for all.
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: Train more interpreters each year through our signature Language Access Fellowship Program
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Increase opportunities for Found in Translation alumnae, including new and adapted programming to meet their evolving needs and ambitions
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Three: Amplify language access in the Boston area via the services and advocacy of our alumnae interpreters
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
Budget resources to support staff training and professional support, such as participation in programming run by the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.
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
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Members of our staff and board are active on social media, work regularly in partnerships with other organizations to support our mission, and actively present at conferences/participate in professional organizations related to our field. (For example, membership in the National Council for Interpreting in Health Care.)
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.
In response to the pandemic and the increased need for our program, we transitioned and adapted all our programming and operations to be carried out online. This included reconfiguring our training model to better support virtual learning, and adding additional technology skills/access supports to our supportive services. We also provided resources to alumnae in navigating changes in the interpreting industry (ex. access to remote interpreting equipment or training). In addition, we added remote interpreting options as alternatives to in-person assignments via our in-house interpreter services, providing uninterrupted direct job opportunities for our graduates.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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