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Human Services : Social Services

Tri Lakes Cares

Improving people's lives through emergency, self-sufficiency, and relief programs.

three stars

85.49

235 North Jefferson Street Monument, CO 80132
tel: (719) 481-4864   Web Site
EIN: 74-2501356

Board Leadership
Vic Blasi
President

CEO
Haley Chapin
Executive Director

 
 

This organization has shared information about their results and/or practices to help inform your giving. Click to view this data.

  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 85.49 three stars
  Financial 79.48 two stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 07/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Tri-Lakes Cares is a community-based, volunteer-supported, resource center whose purpose is to improve people's lives through emergency, self-sufficiency and relief programs. Since 1984, we have been meeting our clients' most basic needs while helping them move towards self-sufficiency. As the only food pantry and human services organization located in and serving northern El Paso County, Colorado, we are a critical resource for those in need.

Tri-Lakes Cares is a community-based, volunteer-supported, resource center whose purpose is to improve people's lives through emergency, self-sufficiency and relief programs. Since 1984, we have been meeting our clients' most basic needs while helping them move towards self-sufficiency. As the only food pantry and human services organization located in and serving northern El Paso County, Colorado, we are a critical resource for those in need.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Showing 3 of 6
Total in 2018
Number of clients served
907
Number of low-income households who have received rental assistance to prevent eviction and remain in their own homes.
55
Number of seniors provided assistance to assist with independent living through support of the client service programs including but not limiited to food, financial assistance for rent, medical needs.
138
Average number of children, grades Preschool to 12th grade, who receive snack packs on weekends during the school year.
376
Total pounds (lbs) of food distributed through all food pantry programs.
208,437
Number of low-income households who have received utilities assistance to keep the lights, heat and water on in their homes.
68
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of January 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

two stars

79.48

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 07/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 83.2%
  Administrative Expenses 7.0%
  Fundraising Expenses 9.7%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.11
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.43
  Program Expenses Growth -0.1%
  Liabilities to Assets 5.5%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Tri Lakes Cares on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Tri Lakes Cares on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Constituent Voice

Charity Navigator believes collecting feedback from the people an organization serves can make it more effective. That is why we're partnering with GuideStar by Candid to share Constituent Voice information with you. Here's how this organization is listening and learning from its constituents:
How is the organization collecting feedback?
Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Suggestion box/email
How is the organization using feedback?
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 is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to get honest feedback from our clients, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Describe a recent change in your organization that resulted from feedback.
In 2017, following review of surveys regarding use of various pantry programs, it was noted that "senior groceries" and TEFAP, were not being utilized to full capacity In addition, the food received through the Help Yourself market and the Supplemental Pantry covered nearly all requested needs Consequently, both the senior groceries and the TEFAP programs were discontinued, with more resources put into the remaining pantry programs
This Constituent Voice information is provided to us by Candid. At this time, Constituent Voice information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Tri Lakes Cares (CO) 85.49 three stars
Meals On Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County (TX) 92.77 four stars
Ceres Community Project (CA) 88.00 three stars
Valley Outreach (MN) 90.90 four stars
Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego (CA) 91.25 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,137,109
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $31,164
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $103,292
Total Contributions $1,271,565
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $1,271,565
   Other Revenue $-4,592
TOTAL REVENUE $1,266,973
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $1,031,834
   Administrative Expenses $98,377
   Fundraising Expenses $142,416
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $1,272,627
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-5,654
   
Net Assets $628,845

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Pantry Food and Sundries $517,667 50.2%
Self Sufficiency Programs $370,079 35.9%
Housing and Utilities $144,088 14.0%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-09 07/01/2019 85.49 three stars
2017-09 08/01/2018 89.28 three stars
2016-09 12/01/2017 94.69 four stars
2016-09 10/01/2017 93.98 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 74-2501356
Name in IRS Master File TRI LAKES CARES
NTEE Code P60
NTEE Classification Emergency Assistance (Food, Clothing, Cash)
NTEE Type Human Services - Multipurpose and Other
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (560) Supplying money, goods or services to the poor
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
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).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date October, 1988
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End September
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • September, 2018
  • September, 2017
  • September, 2016
  • September, 2015
  • September, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$84,467 6.63% Haley Chapin Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Tri Lakes Cares (CO) 85.49 three stars
Neighbor to Neighbor (CT) 96.80 four stars
Gifts of Love (CT) 90.58 four stars
Loaves & Fishes, Charlotte (NC) 96.26 four stars
Fort Bend Senior Meals on Wheels (TX) 92.82 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Constituent Voice

This organization is sharing information on how they communicate with stakeholders to better inform your giving.

Charity Contact Info

Tri Lakes Cares
235 North Jefferson Street
Monument, CO 80132
tel: (719) 481-4864
fax: (719) 481-3030
EIN: 74-2501356

Mail donations to:
P.O. Box 1301
Monument, CO 80132

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Vic Blasi
President

CEO

Haley Chapin
Executive Director

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