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899 N LOGAN ST STE 208
Denver CO 80203-3154
Denver CO | IRS ruling year: 1978 | EIN: 84-0743810
NACC WORKS TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS, WELL-BEING, AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM THROUGH ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION. NACC STR ... (More)
NACC WORKS TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS, WELL-BEING, AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM THROUGH ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION. NACC STRENGTHENS LEGAL ADVOCACY BY PROVIDING TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, MEMBERSHIP, CONFERENCE, AND POLICY PROGRAMS. (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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for National Association of Counsel for Children is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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.
National Association of Counsel for Children 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 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 - 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 - 37.99% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 37.99% - 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 - 71.95% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 71.95% - 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 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:
Discussion groups, forums, panels lectures, etc. (BMF activity code: 123)
Prevention of cruelty to children (BMF activity code: 327)
Foundation Status:
Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2) (BMF foundation code: 16)
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 (National Association of Counsel for Children) or EIN (840743810) 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.
National Association of Counsel for Children reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Revenue
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Revenue for in-person conferences and training was 25% less than projected. Delays in the paper supply chain postponed the release of the 4th edition of NACC's Child Welfare Law and Practice book. We applied for and received a PPP loan in 2020 and COVID-19 relief grant in 2022 and were able to avoid impacts on staffing.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
NACC is now delivering two sets of training events - in person and online in order to engage as many child welfare attorneys as possible. For example, our National Child Welfare Law Conference is now held onsite at a conference hotel, with a new program presented live on zoom one month later. While the ability to reach more people is wonderful, the increase in programming offered puts additional demands on staff.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
NACC had remote employees and launched an online training program prior to the pandemic, so the organization was better positioned than many to adapt to new ways of staffing and programming during the pandemic. NACC's online training program grew, and now we are transitioning back to in-person training and travel.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
NACC will continue to offer high-quality online training, including a Race Equity Series, in 2023. NACC also served as a convenor of children's law offices during the pandemic, to provide a place of support and peer exchange during rapidly changing conditions. These monthly meetings have and will continue.
Not Currently Scored
National Association of Counsel for Children 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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National Association of Counsel for Children reported its two largest programs on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TRAINING AND TECHNICAL PROVIDED VIA ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE, TRAINING FOR TRIAL LAWYERS AND OTHERS, A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION PROVIDING PRACTIC ... (More)
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TRAINING AND TECHNICAL PROVIDED VIA ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE, TRAINING FOR TRIAL LAWYERS AND OTHERS, A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION PROVIDING PRACTICE TIPS, CASE LAW, POLICY UPDATES, AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION. NACC ALSO FILES AMICUS BRIEFS AND ENGAGES IN POLICY ADVOCACY TO ENSURE CHILDREN'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
CERTIFICATION - PROJECT TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZATION AND CERTIFICATION TO LAWYERS INVOLVED IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR CHILDREN.
National Association of Counsel for Children 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.
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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.
NACC directly serves attorneys and other professionals who serve children and families in the child welfare system. NACC conducts regular surveys of members and our wider community of contacts on their satisfaction with the services and programs NACC provides as well as on other topics in the law. NACC also engages our youth/constitutent board, the National Advisory Council on Children's Legal Representation.
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), Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees
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?
Yes. NACC co-designed revised Recommendations on the Representation of Children in Abuse and Neglect cases. In the our Recommendations were solely drafted by attorneys, but this time they were designed at the outset by young people who have experienced the foster care system and received/not received legal services in the process.
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.
NACC received feedback from our youth board on constituent engagement and NACC published a tool and guide for our organization as well as for our members. NACC received feedback members would like more resources available on our website so our staff posted member webinars, a conference library, and an enhanced quarterly law journal.
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 (5/7) | |
|---|---|
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 (4/7) | |
|---|---|
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. | |
National Association of Counsel for Children 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
NACC advances children’s and parents’ rights by supporting a diverse, inclusive community of child welfare lawyers to provide zealous legal representation and by advocating for equitable, anti-racist solutions co-designed by people with lived experience.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Every child, parent, and family is well-supported in their community and has equitable access to justice through culturally responsive, client-centered legal representation.
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: NACC will promote excellence in legal representation by expanding and diversifying certified Child Welfare Law Specialists and by delivering excellent training informed by constituent voices and DEI.
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Goal Two: NACC will build community by increasing and modernizing support to a growing and diverse membership, establishing student chapters, and lead convenings to advance policy initiatives.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: NACC will advance justice for children and families by collaborating with people with lived experience to co-design child welfare policy, file amicus briefs, and engage members in local advocacy.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Internally, in the last 18 months, NACC expanded our leadership team and developed a supervision learning group to ensure consistency with the mission and vision and to provide support to our growing team, which includes three individuals with lived experience in foster care. NACC has increased its professional development budget annually for all staff. NACC's Executive Director was recently selected to join a women's leadership network called CHIEF and the organization is investing in this professional development and networking opportunity. Externally, NACC supports leadership development in the child welfare legal community. NACC is developing the 2nd edition of the Child Law Office Guidebook, to provide resources on best practices in leadership and children's law office management.
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
As a national nonprofit and child welfare attorney association, NACC has a robust network of external engagements to advance our mission. First, in 2019 NACC launched a State Coordinator program to provide local community building and leadership at the state level, and now has 41 State Coordinators providing support across the country. Second, in 2020 NACC launched a constituent advisory board, now called the National Advisory Council on Children's Legal Representation (NACCLR), which is engaged in NACC programs, board committees, and leads initiatives. Third, NACC supports children's law office leaders by convening a monthly child law office group and annual Children's Law Office Convening. Fourth, NACC hosts an annual National Child Welfare Law Conference which brings both legal education and thought leadership to our field. Lastly, NACC launched the Counsel for Kids campaign and leads a national advisory committee. NACC also participates on several national coalitions.
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.
NACC adapted to external changes in the past year by doubling down on our commitment to race equity, diversity, and the co-design of programs and services with persons who have lived experience in foster care or the child welfare system. NACC engaged in a strategic plan review with Community Wealth Partners to update NACC's mission, vision, and organizational goals consistent with this commitment. NACC also engaged in a second round of race equity training with Race Matters Institute, to ensure our growing team had the education, resources, and support to advance our updated mission, vision, and goals. NACC takes a strong stand on policy positions and in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion and we will continue to support our team to do this. NACC has also been impacted by rising inflation and travel expenses, which, in addition to the pandemic, we also attribute to the 25% reduction in projected attendance at NACC's national onsite conference. NACC strives to keep costs low for attendees, but this is becoming increasingly difficult. We will continue to balance the costs and benefits of both onsite and in-person training, convenings, and events.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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