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Elkridge MD | IRS ruling year: 2015 | EIN: 47-1553685
Organization Mission
SUPPORTING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN RURAL KENYA.WE WORK TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN RURAL KENYA TO SUCCEED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
Good
This charity's score is 86%, 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: 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!
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2022
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 if at least 50% of board members are indentified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 14 independent members10 out of 10 points Independent Board Size - 14 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 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
Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 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 - Listed3 out of 3 points Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed3 out of 3 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 - Listed7 out of 7 points Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed7 out of 7 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 - Missing0 out of 7 points Whistleblower Policy - Missing0 out of 7 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 - Missing0 out of 7 points Document Retention and Destruction - Missing0 out of 7 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 - Yes3 out of 3 points Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes3 out of 3 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
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Missing0 out of 3 points Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Missing0 out of 3 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 - 0.00%15 out of 15 points Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 0.00%15 out of 15 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 - 91.30%25 out of 25 points Program Expense: Ratio - 91.30%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
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
No Data Available
Salary data is coming soon.
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 (Kenya Connect Inc.) or EIN (471553685) in the 'Search Term' field.
Not Currently Scored
Kenya Connect 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.
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
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Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditConstituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points Constituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
100% 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.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Kenya Connect serves 18,000 students and 500 teachers at 62 partner public schools in rural Kenya.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Paper surveys, Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, 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?
The community appreciates that we ask their opinion on a wide range of issues and they feel a true partner with us. It has helped us be a more effective organization.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
We learned that girls were missing school because of their menstrual cycle. As a result, we created and developed a reusable sanitary pad kit that we are now distributing to schools with menstrual health and hygiene information.
Equity Practices - No Data AvailableUnscored Equity Practices - No Data AvailableUnscored
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. 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.
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.
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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
SUPPORTING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN RURAL KENYA.WE WORK TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN RURAL KENYA TO SUCCEED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
Vision 10/10 points Vision 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Our vision is an empowered rural community that harnesses the benefits of education to drive sustain
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: To expand our School Library and Literacy Programs to all partner schools
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: To expand our digital literacy program to students at our 62 partner schools
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Leadership Development 15/15 points Leadership Development 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
Our leadership team in Kenya and the U.S. participate in a variety of professional development opportunities through GlobalGiving, The EastAfrican Philanthropic Network, Child Protection Services, the Lightful Learning Platform, The East African Philanthropy Network, MITSOLVE and Team4Tech. These sessions include ones geared towards leadership for Executive Directors and others on specific program topics.
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:
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
Kenya Connect believes partners are essential to our work. We currently partner with GlobalGiving, LevelUp Village, The Commonwealth Education Trust, Seavuria, GiveLove, Musicians for the World and LitWorld for programming and non-profit sharing. Our Executive Directors have presented peer learning sessions for the GlobalGiving Network, to the UNH Foundation Board and the Sunshine Coast-Sechelt Network of Rotary Clubs. James Musyoka was featured in the ONE Campaign's Story of Solidarity about our response to the Covid-19 pandemic and on the Butterfly Effect Podcast with Tali Orad. We also actively post on linkedin about various topics. Part of our mission is to train teachers on effective classroom pedagogy while also working with parents on the importance of reading and studying. During the pandemic we provided Covid Prevention Education to the wider community including boda boda drivers, market mamas and community healthy volunteers. We love telling our story and post daily.
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.
One of the tragic outcomes of the pandemic related school closures was the rise of teen pregnancy in Kenya. As our staff read the reports that 4,000 girls in the county became pregnant, they began surveying our 62 partner public schools to see how our students were affected. Sadly, we learned that 98 of our girls which include 26 primary school students became pregnant. In further exploration we learned that many of these pregnancies were as a result of non-consensual relationships. As a result, in talking with teachers, parents and community leaders, our staff embarked in developing a program to pilot on reproductive health and violence prevention for girls and boys at four of our schools. It was clear that we needed to start the conversations early, at grades 6 and 7, to keep the students safe. Our staff also believed that it was essential to include boys in the program. At the same time, Kenya Connect is creating a "Girl Advocacy Committee" to discuss the broader cultural issue and how we can work to keep our girls safe. As we determined that this multi-pronged approach was the best course of action, we sought grant funding. Recently we learned that a foundation will fund the pilot. To broaden our leadership on the project, we have invited University of New Hampshire School of Social Work and Nursing faculty to work with us on developing and evaluating our work. A nimble organization, Kenya Connect listens to the community and is able to respond to challenges that impact education for the 18,000 students in our rural community. Although we knew that teen pregnancy was an issue, the pandemic brought the issue to the forefront and our team believed it was problem we needed to address.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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