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http://www.sandyhookpromise.org
PO BOX 3489
Newtown CT 06470-3489
Newtown CT | IRS ruling year: 2013 | EIN: 46-1657101
THE MISSION OF SANDY HOOK PROMISE IS TO END SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND CREATE A CULTURE CHANGE THAT PREVENTS VIOLENCE AND OTHER HARMFUL ACTS THAT HURT CHILDREN. THROUGH OU ... (More)
THE MISSION OF SANDY HOOK PROMISE IS TO END SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND CREATE A CULTURE CHANGE THAT PREVENTS VIOLENCE AND OTHER HARMFUL ACTS THAT HURT CHILDREN. THROUGH OUR PROVEN, EVIDENCE-INFORMED KNOW THE SIGNS PROGRAMS AND SENSIBLE, BIPARTISAN SCHOOL AND GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION, WE TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS TO RECOGNIZE, INTERVENE, AND GET HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE SOCIALLY ISOLATED AND/OR AT RISK OF HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. (Less)
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!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation 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 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 - 6/9 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 6/9 - 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 - Audited - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 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 - 12.85% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 12.85% - 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 - 78.06% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 78.06% - 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:
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 (Sandy Hook Promise Foundation) or EIN (461657101) 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.
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
No impact on financial structure.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Sandy Hook Promise heard loud and clear from educators and students alike about the impact of the COVID pandemic. Adapting to a virtual classroom was a struggle and the social isolation and stress kids were feeling was reaching epic proportions. With children staying home from school to prevent the spread of the pandemic, our focus on protecting their safety and well-being was paramount. Research shows that when young people feel excluded, bullied or depressed, they’re at risk of harming themselves or others. Youth experienced increased levels of anxiety and depression, largely due to social isolation from their peers. Studies showed 70% of teenagers struggled with mental health. One in four considered suicide — the second leading cause of death for adolescents. In response, we adjusted our programs to ensure we were focused on issues facing youth the most during this challenging time and responded to the needs of our audiences with resources and tools to help them through this.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
In response to COVID, we: •Launched Say Something: Prevent Suicide program and Say Something: Being A Trusted Adult workshop in our online Learning Center •Updated our existing programs with video trainings and companion resources for distance learning and added resources to our online Learning Center •Provided live virtual trainers for all programs through Zoom and other platforms, including icebreaker activities to help kids connect online •Produced webinar series including: “Gun Violence Prevention During COVID-19” “Suicide Prevention During COVID-19 Social Isolation,” “Safe Storage of Firearms at Home,” “Youth Mental Wellness and Social Connectedness,” and participating in partner-led webinars like “Trauma-Informed Practices Across School Settings” •Equipped students to support their peers through SAVE Promise Clubs, with specialized toolkits and platforms for virtual gatherings like the Youth-to-Youth Town Hall, Pep Rallies, and National SAVE Promise Club Youth Summit
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We have retained all new virtual and digital offerings and enhanced online support, in addition to a return to some in-person activities.
Not Currently Scored
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation 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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Sandy Hook Promise Foundation reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
SANDY HOOK PROMISE'S EVIDENCE - BASED AND INFORMED KNOW THE SIGNS ("KTS") PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED TO SCHOOLS AT NO COST AND TEACH YOUTH AND ADULTS HOW TO PREVENT SHOOTINGS, VIOLENCE, AND OTHER HARMFUL ... (More)
SANDY HOOK PROMISE'S EVIDENCE - BASED AND INFORMED KNOW THE SIGNS ("KTS") PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED TO SCHOOLS AT NO COST AND TEACH YOUTH AND ADULTS HOW TO PREVENT SHOOTINGS, VIOLENCE, AND OTHER HARMFUL ACTS IN SCHOOLS. THESE PROGRAMS TRAIN STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS HOW TO IDENTIFY WARNING SIGNS AND THREATS, INTERVENE, AND GET HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. THESE EARLY-PREVENTION MEASURES EMPOWER THEM TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES SAFE.- START WITH HELLO TEACHES YOUTH TO MINIMIZE SOCIAL ISOLATION, EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS, AND CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND CONNECTED CULTURE.- SAY SOMETHING AND THE SAY SOMETHING ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM ("SS-ARS") TRAIN STUDENTS TO LOOK FOR WARNING SIGNS OF SOMEONE AT RISK OF HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS AND TO "SAY SOMETHING" BEFORE A TRAGEDY CAN OCCUR. IN ADDITION, THE "SS-ARS" PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS AND ADULTS TO EASILY AND CONFIDENTIALLY REPORT SAFETY CONCERNS TO HELP PREVENT VIOLENCE AND TRAGEDIES. "SS-ARS" ALLOWS FOR ANONYMOUS TIPS 24/7 THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, APP OR BY PHONE, A CRISIS CENTER THEN REVIEWS AND SENDS ALL SUBMISSIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND/OR SCHOOL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO INTERVENE AND GET HELP.-WE ALSO SPONSOR "SAVE PROMISE CLUBS" AT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH HELP PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN OUR "KTS" PROGRAMS AND EMBED THEM IN SCHOOL CULTURE. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
MAKE THE PROMISE - THIS INITIATIVE ATTRACTS, BUILDS AND ENGAGES A COMMITTED INFLUENTIAL MAJORITY OF AMERICANS TO JOIN SANDY HOOK PROMISE IN THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, VIOLENCE AND OTHER HARMF ... (More)
MAKE THE PROMISE - THIS INITIATIVE ATTRACTS, BUILDS AND ENGAGES A COMMITTED INFLUENTIAL MAJORITY OF AMERICANS TO JOIN SANDY HOOK PROMISE IN THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, VIOLENCE AND OTHER HARMFUL ACTS IN SCHOOLS. WE ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH TARGETED MES (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
PROMISE LEADERS - THIS INITIATIVE BUILDS AND MAINTAINS A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER "PROMISE LEADERS" WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND EMPOWERED WITH THE SKILLS, TOOLS AND MATERIALS TO RAISE AW ... (More)
PROMISE LEADERS - THIS INITIATIVE BUILDS AND MAINTAINS A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER "PROMISE LEADERS" WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND EMPOWERED WITH THE SKILLS, TOOLS AND MATERIALS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SHP, EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT OUR K (Less)
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation has earned a 96% 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
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.
Nearly 14 million people have participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven “Know the Signs” programs that focus on prevention to help end the epidemic of gun violence by training youth and adults on how to identify at-risk behavior and intervene to get help before a tragedy can occur.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
SMS text surveys, Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email
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
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?
Asking for feedback from our constituents has helped them to feel more invested into our programs and that we are invested in their success. We have seen increased engagement with the individuals, schools, and SAVE Promise Clubs who have given us feedback in the past.
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, We don't have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, 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.
We heard from schools that it was difficult to participate in our Call-to-Action Weeks because they were only for one specific week and if that conflicted with anything they had planned, they couldn't participate. Because of this, we now allow schools to pick which week works best for them in September for Start With Hello Week, and any week in March for Say Something Week. We've gotten positive feedback on this change.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 95/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 95/100 pts
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 95 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 9 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 (4/7) | |
|---|---|
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 (5/7) | |
|---|---|
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. | |
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation 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
The mission of Sandy Hook Promise is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Through our proven, evidence-informed Know the Signs programs and sensible, bipartisan school and gun safety legislation, we teach young people and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. SHP was founded with a vision that no child should experience the devastation of a school shooting. By training a generation of “upstanders” to look out for each other, we are building toward that vision. Our vision of a future where children are free from school shootings and acts of violence in their schools, homes, and communities drives our five-year strategic plan. To grow our impact and help tackle the challenges of the new era, SHP has identified high-level priorities for 2022 to 2026.
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: Scale programs to expand impact through continued training delivery, engaging an additional 20M youth and adults in Know the Signs programs, increasing total participants to 35 million by 2027.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Evolve programs to equitably and inclusively serve beneficiaries of all backgrounds and identities by engaging experts and soliciting evaluation and feedback from diverse students and stakeholders.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Three: Enhance capacity to continuously improve program efficacy by engaging research partners; bolstering infrastructure to track activities, outputs, and outcomes to refine programs and maximize impact.
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) regularly invests in leadership development. This includes professional training sessions for managers on key topics, leadership resources and support through the employee assistance program and educational partnerships. SHP also supported an executive's certification in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management through Harvard Business School's Executive Education program. In addition, SHP leverages volunteer leaders and experts from various industries to mentor staff and build leadership capacity.
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
Policy Advocacy
Sandy Hook Promise seeks to catalyze long-lasting meaningful change by reframing the conversation around school shootings, gun violence, and youth safety to focus on prevention. Our cofounders’ public leadership in the gun safety movement, along with our vast social media and volunteer networks and PSAs that have received billions of impressions worldwide, serve to amplify our messaging that “gun violence is preventable when you know the signs.” This movement begins with the over 8 million individuals who have made “The Sandy Hook Promise” on our website.
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.
Decades of research on mass and school shootings reveals one common thread across them all: warning signs precede the attack. This means that gun violence is not inevitable. It is preventable. Each year, we continue to refine and strengthen our curriculum with new research. The Know the Signs programs (Start With Hello and Say Something) and their supplemental courses are proven to create kinder, more inclusive and connected school communities – and save lives. Program curriculum is regularly reviewed and updated, with input from staff, program participants and our youth, educator and expert advisory boards. Students are the eyes and ears of their schools, particularly in today’s social media-heavy environment where many warning signs are often on display. Teaching students to create a culture of inclusivity, value looking out for one another, know the warning signs of potential violence, and report possible threats is more important than ever. We've adapted our outreach and warning signs to include new guidance for social media as platforms and trends evolve, such as the TikTok "slap a teacher" challenge. We have also adapted to changes due to shifting concerns about the pandemic, strengthening support for students and educators returning to school as well as continuing to manage for hybrid learning environments. As new challenges and opportunities emerge, we have also adapted our approach to policy. In the wake of the tragic shooting in Uvalde, we were able to leverage strong relationships with policy makers on both sides of the aisle to help inform and enact the new Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. With technological advancement in 3D-printing of weapons, our platform now includes guidance on policies for "ghost-guns" and other unregulated 3D-printed firearms. With the shifting policy and educational landscape, Sandy Hook Promise strives to be grounded in strategy while remaining nimble regarding emerging issues and trends.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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