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Human Services : Social Services

The Cara Program

Transforming Lives

three stars

85.80

237 South Desplaines Street Chicago, IL 60661
tel: (312) 798-3300   Web Site
EIN: 36-4268095

Board Leadership
Bill Conroy
Chairman

CEO
Maria Kim
President & CEO

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 85.80 three stars
  Financial 81.19 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 08/01/2017 and includes data from FY2016, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The Cara Program prepares and inspires motivated individuals to break the cycles of homelessness and poverty, transform their lives, strengthen our communities, and forge paths to real and lasting success. After nearly 25 years, The Cara Program has evolved as not only a best-in-class job training and placement provider, but also a vehicle for true life transformation. Since our founding in 1991, we have placed more than 4,800 individuals into more than 6,600 quality jobs at one-year job retention rates of 70% or better, catalyzing the same number of families to stop the transfer of poverty from one generation to the next. Additionally, The Cara Program leverages a social enterprise model in which we create transitional jobs or provide access to temporary jobs in the private sector through our businesses: Cleanslate, a neighborhood beautification business, and TCP Staffing, an alternative staffing firm.

The Cara Program prepares and inspires motivated individuals to break the cycles of homelessness and poverty, transform their lives, strengthen our communities, and forge paths to real and lasting success. After nearly 25 years, The Cara Program has evolved as not only a best-in-class job training and placement provider, but also a vehicle for true life transformation. Since our founding in 1991, we have placed more than 4,800 individuals into more than 6,600 quality jobs at one-year job retention rates of 70% or better, catalyzing the same number of families to stop the transfer of poverty from one generation to the next. Additionally, The Cara Program leverages a social enterprise model in which we create transitional jobs or provide access to temporary jobs in the private sector through our businesses: Cleanslate, a neighborhood beautification business, and TCP Staffing, an alternative staffing firm.

Results Information

Program Name: Cara - Hope, Jobs, & Opportunity
Problem

According to Heartland Alliance’s 2015 Report on Illinois Poverty, a staggering 24% of Chicagoans currently live at/below the federal poverty level. An additional 22% live on the precipice of poverty, often one illness or accident away from plunging into homelessness. Despite the overall drop in Chicago’s unemployment rate, some of the city’s most impoverished communities are still facing 20% unemployment. Permanent, quality employment is needed to break the cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Strategy

Cara provides life- and career-skills training, transitional employment, permanent job placement, employment retention support, and career advancement services on an ongoing basis. Former students on staff help inform the program design, as well as ongoing student feedback. The Downtown Campus accepts 10 classes a year with an average of 30-50 students who will complete a minimum of four weeks of training. Our Quad Communities Campus holds two orientations per month to recruit for core services.

IF:THEN

IF Cara sustains its resources...

THEN Individuals affected by poverty can access a comprehensive workforce development program

IF Cara students participate Cara's life- and career-skills training...

THEN those students will become send-out-eligible

IF Cara students become send-out eligible...

THEN They can gain quality employment through Cara's businesses or corporate employment partners

IF Cara students gain quality employment...

THEN they will secure housing, establish a savings, and reunite with families

IF Cara students become economically self sufficient and examples of change in their communities...

THEN the cycle of poverty will be broken
Classy Awards: The Classy Awards recognize the innovative work of nonprofits around the world. Classy Award nominees articulate the impact of their programs through a data driven framework which combines qualitative insights with quantitative metrics.
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This results data is current as of November 2017, when it was provided to us by Classy. Results information published on this organization's rating page has no effect on its rating at this time. data iconLearn More

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

Financial

three stars

81.19

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 08/01/2017 and includes data from FY2016, 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)		 73.3%
  Administrative Expenses 14.4%
  Fundraising Expenses 12.1%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.18
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.96
  Program Expenses Growth 3.0%
  Liabilities to Assets 34.6%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The Cara Program on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The Cara Program 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

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The Cara Program (IL) 85.80 three stars
Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ and Philadelphia (NJ) 85.53 three stars
Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (MN) 90.94 four stars
WHW (CA) 89.60 three stars
Goodwill of Silicon Valley (CA) 91.45 four stars

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REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $2,903,678
   Federated Campaigns $120,000
   Membership Dues $980
   Fundraising Events $721,008
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $722,217
Total Contributions $4,467,883
   Program Service Revenue $2,516,172
Total Primary Revenue $6,984,055
   Other Revenue $36,907
TOTAL REVENUE $7,020,962
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $4,896,783
   Administrative Expenses $1,074,704
   Fundraising Expenses $908,262
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $6,879,749
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $141,213
   
Net Assets $6,580,168

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
Clean Slate $1,263,809 25.8%
Traditional Training & Placement Program $1,221,193 24.9%
TCP Staffing $1,138,665 23.3%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2016-06 08/01/2017 85.80 three stars
2015-06 08/01/2016 84.33 three stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 86.32 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 08/01/2015 90.18 four stars
2014-06 07/01/2015 89.78 three stars
2013-06 08/01/2014 83.64 three stars
2013-06 07/01/2014 82.11 three stars
2011-12 02/01/2013 90.52 four stars
2010-12 12/01/2011 92.46 four stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 96.80 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 12/22/2010 97.89 four stars
2008-12 11/01/2010 90.62 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 36-4268095
Name in IRS Master File CARA PROGRAM
NTEE Code J20
NTEE Classification Employment Procurement Assistance, Job Training
NTEE Type Employment, Job-Related
Classification Educational Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
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 March, 1999
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
  • June, 2013

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

Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$179,990 2.61% Maria Kim President, CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The Cara Program (IL) 85.80 three stars
East Bay Alliance for A Sustainable Economy (CA) 91.62 four stars
Millionair Club Charity (WA) 90.57 four stars
Delancey Street Foundation (CA) 91.52 four stars
Dress for Success Worldwide (NY) 92.38 four stars

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Charity Contact Info

The Cara Program
237 South Desplaines Street
Chicago, IL 60661
tel: (312) 798-3300
EIN: 36-4268095

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Bill Conroy
Chairman

CEO

Maria Kim
President & CEO

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