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Transparency, Governance, Finance, Policies

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  2. Transparency, Governance, Finance, Policies

IMPACT & RESULTS

Outcomes & Impact: This program officially launched end of the year 2022.

  • Over the period of approximately a month, we were able to fund a Jewish woman visiting her critically ill sister (from Israel to Ireland).
  • Then when BDE her sister unfortunately passed, we were able to fund the international funeral/burial of her sister.
  • We funded a lone soldier’s flight ticket expenses for medical examinations.
  • We started raising funds (which we are continuing through early 2023) for medical fees for the life-saving procedures for a Jewish couple’s young daughter.

Challenges: We encounter the normal challenges of trying to raise funds with a limited audience. Additional challenges included:

  • Finding a list of both US and Israel-based Rebbayim that are willing to vet cases and provide verification services
  • Dealing with a hostile party attacking a Cause
  • Establishing methods for accurate accounting, governance, transparency, etc for the launch

Best practices:  We are following a policy of transparency, well-governance, and accountability.

Partnerships: We have established tech partnerships with various solutions and quickly established 3 Rabbis (2 organizations) that can perform external audits and verfications services

Sustainability:  Our launch funding was provided as donations by a Board Member. There is very low overhead: tech, accounting & legal. All staff are volunteers.

  • Increase efforts in attaining individual supporters by networking, publishing our work, and researching to find new potential donors.
  • Apply to foundation funding/grants
  • Starting a Synagogue Outreach Campaign
  • Accepting/encouraging more donated goods/services if relevant
  • [very limited and still researching] Sell products/services

Overall, it’s important to us for regular reviews and evaluations of our charity’s impact and results in order to ensure that you are meeting our mission and achieving the desired outcomes.

ACCOUNTABILITY & FINANCE

Accountability and Transparency

Board Composition:

Per our by-laws, we maintain an odd # of board members ranging from 5-7 total voting members.  It is required that a majority of the board is independent (not salaried) and currently all members are independent.

We have these policies in order to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.

Independent Audit or Financial Review:

Per the by-laws, we do hire an independent respected individual to evaluate all finances (see the documentation below).  The threshold of our fundraising, once it exceeds $500k yearly, will be evaluated by an independent financial compilation, review, or audit. 

Conflict of Interest Policy:

It is required by our by-laws that all Board Members sign and declare any potential conflict of interest.  It is required a unanimous vote from the board (excluding conflicted parties) to accept the conflict.

Board Meeting Minutes:

At least yearly board meetings are required and recorded and results are published publicly.

Document Retention and Destruction:

Per by-laws, we have a document retention and destruction policy (see the documentation below to view).

Whistleblower Policy:

Per by-laws, we have a whistleblower policy (see the documentation below to view).

Websites:

We have a central website for the Non-Profit Corporation Rescue the Persecuted Inc. (RescueThePersecuted.com) that links to each of our formal programs.  The website for this program is HeimishGiving.org

Financial Metrics

Liabilities to Assets:

We maintain no liabilities currently.  Our only assets are (if we have any) undistributed funds currently.

By-laws dictate a policy of maintaining less than or equal to 40% in the case those decisions come up in the future.

Program Expense Ratio:

The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expenses.  By-laws dictate maintaining 85% or higher.

Total Revenue and Expenses:

We keep this info public per by-laws.  This can be viewed via our Candid/GuideStar profile (link below) or through our 990 forms via the IRS website.

Salary of Key Persons:

We have not nor in the near future intend on giving salaries for “key persons.”  If this policy changes it will be done via the by-laws and publicly announced.

Programs We are Launching 2023

Community Involvement

One of the categories we use internally is called “Culture & Community,” which looks at how well we listen to our constituents, use feedback to improve our programs, and foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace culture.

Description:

This category evaluates the extent to which we engage with and involve the local community in our programs and activities.

How it might apply to our charity:

As a charity that works to rescue persecuted religious minorities and provide them with support to break the cycle of poverty, it’s important to consider the role of the local community in our work. By involving community members in our programs and activities, we build relationships, gather valuable feedback and insights, and foster a sense of ownership and investment in our mission.

We partner with local organizations and religious groups to raise awareness about our work and recruit volunteers. We involve community members in decision-making processes, such as by setting up a committee or advisory group to provide input on our programs and priorities. By actively engaging with the community, we help to build support for our mission and ensure that our programs are meeting the needs of the families we serve.

Community Partnerships Program

Purpose:

To build relationships and involve the local community in our mission to rescue persecuted religious minorities and provide them with support to break the cycle of poverty.

Goals:

  • Develop partnerships with local organizations, religious groups, and community leaders to raise awareness about our work and recruit volunteers.
  • Involve community members in decision-making processes, such as through a community advisory committee or focus groups.
    Gather feedback and insights from community members to inform the development and evaluation of our programs.
  • Foster a sense of ownership and investment in our mission among community members.

Activities:

  • We host informational sessions and workshops to educate community members about our work and how they can get involved.
  • Organize volunteer opportunities, such as participating in rescue missions or assisting with fundraising efforts.
  • Set up a community advisory committee or focus groups to gather input and feedback from community members on our programs and priorities.
  • Partner with local organizations to co-host events or engage in joint advocacy efforts.

Evaluation:

  • Track the number of partnerships established and the level of engagement with each partner.
  • Collect feedback from community members about their experiences with the program and their perceptions of its impact.
  • Assess the extent to which community input has informed the development and evaluation of our programs.
  • Monitor the level of ownership and investment in our mission among community members.

Leadership Development Program

Purpose:

To invest in the leadership capacity of our organization and enhance our ability to execute on our strategic plan and adapt to internal and external changes.

Goals:

  • Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for our staff and board members.
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning and growth within our organization.
  • Develop strong and effective leadership at all levels of our organization.
  • Enhance our ability to adapt to challenges and pivot as needed.

Activities:

  • Offer regular workshops, seminars, and coaching sessions to support the professional development of our staff and board members.
  • Encourage staff and board members to participate in leadership development programs outside of our organization.
  • Set up a mentorship program to provide support and guidance to emerging leaders within our organization.
  • Identify opportunities for staff and board members to take on new roles and responsibilities within our organization.
  • Establish systems and processes to support adaptability, such as regularly reviewing and updating our strategic plan, conducting scenario planning exercises, and building flexibility into our programs and operations.

Evaluation:

  • Track participation in leadership development activities and assess their impact on the skills and knowledge of our staff and board members.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of our mentorship program and assess the progress of mentees.
  • Evaluate the extent to which our leadership development efforts are contributing to a culture of continuous learning and growth within our organization.
  • Assess our ability to adapt to internal and external changes and identify areas for improvement.

Documentation:

End of Year 2022

Ongoing