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5333 N DIXIE HIGHWAY
Oakland Park FL 33334-3414
Oakland Park FL | IRS ruling year: 1989 | EIN: 65-0266070
To provide free essential health care and preventative medical services to the disadvantaged and minority population of Broward County, Florida.
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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Light of the World Clinic Inc. is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
Light of the World Clinic Inc. 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 - 18/18 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 18/18 - 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 - 29.27% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 29.27% - 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 - 87.38% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 87.38% - 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:
Unspecified (BMF activity code: 998)
Foundation Status:
Hospital or medical research organization 170(b)(1)(A)(iii) (BMF foundation code: 12)
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 (Light of the World Clinic Inc.) or EIN (650266070) 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.
Light of the World Clinic Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Staffing
We need to obtain more free medications from pharma companies to provide patients with six months of medications during the county's mandatory stay-at-home order.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Donations to our organization declined by approximately 20%. We also applied and received the PPP loan and thus were able to employ a full staff. The annual Board of Directors' fundraising gala was postponed.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Due to mandatory stay-at-home orders in Broward County, we had to convert to telehealth and phone consults/services while providing patients with a free six-month supply of meds to keep them safe at home, and out of the local hospital emergency rooms. Some medical professionals had to self-quarantine (due to age and comorbidities), which decreased the amount of volunteer medical professionals that were working in the clinic. As a result of the pandemic, some medical doctors retired, and we increased our process to obtain additional volunteer health providers. Due to social distancing, we added new signage within the clinic and changed our scheduling procedures.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
The Clinic quickly adapted and changed its medical service delivery model to continue providing services to our current patients and then addressing the steady influx of new patients. We adopted operational procedures with COVID-19 health safety sanitation standards. We distributed PPE to all medical professionals and masks to all patients. We added several programs - food distribution for those families and seniors in need, case management to families seeking financial relief for rent, mortgage, utilities, and household goods, and provided free lab tests to all patients. We registered in the Florida SHOTS (State Health Online Tracking System) to obtain vaccination records for patients. This helped us provide specific details to the patients. We participated and promoted Florida I DID IT! Campaign to increase vaccination rates in Broward County by providing COVID-19 questions, important COVID-19 vaccine, and facts with information, and building confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Programs, processes, and policies that we implemented during the pandemic and will continue are follows: • Telehealth/Telemedicine Services remain in place but are provided to those homebound or as needed. • Florida SHOTS program - ongoing. • I DID IT! Campaign - ongoing • Health safety sanitation and cleaning program ongoing. • PPE Distribution to Medical Providers - ongoing. • Increased medication distribution - ongoing. • Referring patients to local health departments or hospitals for COVID-19 testing.
Not Currently Scored
Light of the World Clinic 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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Light of the World Clinic Inc. reported its largest program on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
The Clinic has a strong 31 year history of serving the uninsured and medically underserved families of Broward County by providing free essential primary and specialty health care services in 16 diffe ... (More)
The Clinic has a strong 31 year history of serving the uninsured and medically underserved families of Broward County by providing free essential primary and specialty health care services in 16 different areas of specialty along with testing and treatment. During the 2019-2020 program year, the Clinic provided a total number of 13,367 patient encounters including 4,197 patient visits, 3,609 labs/vaccines, 759 diagnostic imaging/tests, 1,610 eligibility/intakes and 154 specialty referrals. In addition, the Clinic provided health outreach to 3,038 individuals through community outreach efforts including health fairs, wellness and special events. Basic health care services were provided by a continuum of 56 licensed and 55 non-licensed volunteers. (Less)
Light of the World Clinic 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
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.
We serve medically underserved uninsured children, adults, and the elderly who are uninsured with little to no income who reside in Broward County, FL. Our work addresses these health disparities by upgrading the health, education, and living standards of uninsured children, families, individuals, and the elderly by eliminating the cycle of poverty for those we serve. Through the Clinic's program, we enhance prevention and health promotion efforts with improved health outcomes while strengthening individual and family functioning.
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), Paper surveys, Case management notes, 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 the people we served has made for better relationships and more comprehensive services being offered at the clinic for our patients and made them more compliant with their treatment(s). The Clinic expanded the houser for our ARNP to accommodate late afternoon hours for our patients who could not attend or had difficulty making morning appointments.
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, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, 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.
Based on patient feedback, we were able to expand the hours of our ARNP to accommodate later afternoon hours for our patients who could not attend or had difficulty making morning appointments.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 100/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 100/100 pts
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 14 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 (7/7) | |
|---|---|
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 (7/7) | |
|---|---|
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. | |
Light of the World Clinic 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
Light of the World Clinic is a volunteer community-based clinic founded in 1989 by the late Dr. Erwin Vasquez with a community vision of access to health care for all. Its mission is to provide free essential health care and preventative medical services to the indigent, uninsured, and at-risk children their families, seniors, or those unable to obtain government benefits in Broward County, Florida. For over 33 years, the Clinic stays true to its purpose and works to empower children and families to reach optimal health and be productive citizens.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Our vision is to provide access to healthcare to the medically underserved, the uninsured and to eliminate disparities for the people we serve. To meet this vision the Clinic provides access and upgrades the health, education, and living standards of the underserved thereby eliminating the cycle of poverty through healthy individuals and families. Our Objectives are to: • be a leading organization providing compassionate healthcare to those in need by collaborating with volunteers and community agencies. • create a connected healthcare delivery system and provide primary healthcare services to the underserved (200% below Federal poverty level). • meet the needs of the uninsured, develop an appropriate specialty-care referral system and help patients navigate the complex healthcare system in Broward. • educate the underserved on the importance of regular healthcare, annual checkups, proper nutrition, healthy lifestyles, and use of meds thereby avoiding unnecessary medical emergencies.
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: Improved quality patient-centered health outcomes and meet community needs by adapting programs and services in response to changes in both external and internal environments.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Two: Sustain and Strengthen LOTWC's volunteer model of care delivery. Secure adequate volunteer resources, identify and reach out to new sources of volunteer health professionals and interpreters.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: Develop sufficient resources, increase individual donor solicitation, outreach stewardship, and communication to enhance long-term financial sustainability.
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
Provides networking opportunities locally and statewide. Participation in the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics annual conference that brings together executive directors, clinical coordinators, developmental staff, volunteer providers, and board members of member clinics across the state. Participates in breakout sessions on trending topics within the free and charitable clinic sector, interacts with healthcare vendors and partners. Participation in the Florida Blue and Health Foundation of South Florida's local and regional meetings and symposiums. Engagement with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Holy Cross Hospital Doctors in Residency Program - works with the Administrators and Educators to help build the next generation of safety-net providers and leaders who will sustain and strengthen the community health field in South Florida. Engagement and Training with the Community Foundation of Broward, Leadership Broward
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
Provides community mobilization for both staff/board through individual and group advocacy via in-person and social media (Facebook), promotes community awareness through participating in local events, activities, interviews, and guest speaking at local universities and colleges, United Way of Broward County, 211 Broward, Community Foundation of Broward, Chambers of Commerce, and other social service and government agencies. Ongoing individual and group outreach to different sectors of the community and creating partnerships to support and engage others to take action and facilitate support and change for healthcare for the uninsured. From 2019-to 2021, even during COVID, the Clinic staff/board members help add new partners to serve the clinic's patients, including YMCA Community Health Workers, Walgreens for flu shot distribution, Barry University Social Worker volunteers, COVID-financial relief programs, and Food distribution.
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.
Since the start of the pandemic, the Light of the World Clinic made medical intervention adjustments to ensure that our patients and community are cared for and not left behind. Approximately 94% of the Clinic’s workforce is composed of volunteers, which led to a unique challenge during the pandemic as social distancing and stay-at-home orders were issued. In February 2020, the Clinic quickly adapted and changed its medical service delivery model to continue providing services to our current patients and to address the steady influx of new patients. We adopted operational procedures, COVID-19 health safety sanitation standards, and established telehealth with phone consults. We provided patients with a free six-month supply of meds needed to keep them safe at home and to keep them out of the local emergency departments. We also implemented a Food Distribution program to help those in need. The Clinic experienced many individuals and families that delayed their medical routine of care in fear of getting COVID, putting their current health risks in jeopardy and our patients are back on track with improved self-care. In June the Clinic resumed in-person patient visits with the caring group of volunteer physicians and ARNPs who are still willing to come in and see our clients in person. Unfortunately, many of our licensed volunteer staff had to self-quarantine (due to age and comorbidities). Some medical professionals, upon healthy-COVID-free health, rotate back in to provide service to the Clinic’s patients. As a result of the pandemic, we developed several new partners, received new board members, new individual donors, an increase in free meds from pharma companies for our patients, and free telehealth. Today we maintain health safety standards in Clinic and provide telehealth appointments to those homebound. The Clinic's Board of Directors recently added three new board members.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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