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    Community Help Network
    This organization is not rated
    See Details
    Impact & Measurement
    Accountability & Finance
    Culture & Community
    Leadership & Adaptability

    Community Help Network

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    Profile managed by nonprofit | Is this your nonprofit?
    501(c)(3) organization
    Donations are tax-deductible
    URL not available
    550 E BURRELL DR
    Merrillville IN 46307-9027

    Merrillville IN | IRS ruling year: 2020 | EIN: 85-1092043  
    An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
    An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
     
    Organization Mission
    Mission not available
     

    Rating Information

    Not currently rated


    Ratings are calculated from one or more beacon scores. Currently, we require either an Accountability & Finance beacon or an Impact & Measurement beacon to be eligible for a Charity Navigator rating. Note: The absence of a rating does not indicate a positive or negative assessment; it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated this organization.
    See rating report below to learn why this organization is not currently eligible.

    Historical Ratings
    Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
     
    Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!

    Rating Report

    Leadership & Adaptability
    Score

    90

    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

    Strategy

    30 out of 40 points

    Full Credit
    Partial Credit
    No Credit
    Mission Statement
    0 out of 10 points
     
    The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission.
    Vision Statement
    10 out of 10 points
     
    The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
    That our organization can give those in need in our community a hand up not just a hand out. That we
    Strategy Goals
    20 out of 20 points
     
    The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
    Goal One: To obtain funding to keep us going and growing.
    Goal Two: Seek new and better ways to manage our present programs, efficiently and economically.
    Goal Three: Grow where feasible and suitable. Whether by creating new programs or expanding existing programs.

    Leadership

    30 out of 30 points

    Full Credit
    Partial Credit
    No Credit
    Investment in Leadership Development
    15 out of 15 points
     
    The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development.
    President attended Women's Giving Circle event by local funder. Online webinar to learn about the importance of data and how to obtain useful and needed data, especially as concerns grant writing.
    External Focus on Mobilizing Mission
    15 out of 15 points
     
    The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
    We strongly believe in a diverse approach to funding. Grants are wonderful to receive and help immensely but, cannot be depended upon as a constant and consistent source of funding year after year. Therefore, we rely heavily on fundraiser efforts, by our organization, our community supporters and those we serve. As we have grown into new service areas we have made efforts to introduce ourselves in those areas. It is important that the churches, businesses and residents become aware of what we are doing to serve their communities. We have made face to face introductions, spoken at service organizations such as Lions and Rotary, sent out letters of introductions with follow up phone calls. A diverse and continually growing source of funding is key to longevity.

    Adaptability

    30 out of 30 points

    Full Credit
    Partial Credit
    No Credit
    Investment in Leadership Development
    30 out of 30 points
     
    The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
    Rising prices and supply shortage during the last 24 months have made running our main program, a feeding program, even more challenging than normal. Rising prices have also lowered the percentage margin of profit on fundraisers. Our goal is to work smarter not harder, though. When prices zig, we try to zag. When we cannot get the items we need from one vendor, we switch to another. This may result in paying more for an item, or items, but it keeps the program going. We believe everyone feels like we are riding out a very long storm. We believe things will level off. Until then, perseverance, flexibility and increasing the diversity of our funding, will keep us afloat.
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