Northwest Assistance Ministries
Accredited Charity
Meets Standards
Accredited Charity
Meets Standards
Standards Legend
- Meets Standards
- Standards Not Met
- Did Not Disclose
- Review In Progress
- Unable to Verify
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1
Description
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fundraising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Size
Number of Board Members: Standard 2
Description
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Meetings
Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3
Description
An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Compensation
Compensated Board Members: Standard 4
Description
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.The organization meets this standard.
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Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest: Standard 5
Description
No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.The organization meets this standard.
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6
Description
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.The organization meets this standard.
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Effectiveness Report
Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7
Description
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.The organization meets this standard.
Finances
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Program Expenses
Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8
Description
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.The organization meets this standard.
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Fundraising Expenses
Fundraising Expense Ratio: Standard 9
Description
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fundraising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fundraising efforts.The organization meets this standard.
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Accumulating Funds
Ending Net Assets: Standard 10
Description
Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.The organization meets this standard.
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Audit Report
Financial Statements: Standard 11
Description
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12
Description
Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fundraising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.The organization meets this standard.
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Accurate Expense Reporting
Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13
Description
Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fundraising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fundraising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Budget Plan
Budget: Standard 14
Description
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fundraising, and administration.The organization meets this standard.
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
Misleading Appeals: Standard 15
Description
Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.The organization meets this standard.
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Annual Report
Annual Report: Standard 16
Description
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.The organization meets this standard.
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Website Disclosures
Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17
Description
Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.The organization meets this standard.
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Donor Privacy
Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18
Description
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.The organization meets this standard.
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19
Description
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).The organization meets this standard.
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Complaints
Complaints: Standard 20
Description
Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fundraising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.The organization meets this standard.
Conclusion
Northwest Assistance Ministries meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Purpose
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Year, State Incorporated
1983, TX
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Stated Purpose
The mission of Northwest Assistance Ministries is to strive to meet basic human needs through Neighbors helping Neighbors.
Programs
Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) provides a comprehensive array of social services aimed at leading people to independence. NAM provides assistance in areas including food, shelter, health, education, safety and financial education.NAM’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors service model includes the following programs: Emergency Basic Needs, the Joanne Watford Nutrition Center, Meals on Wheels, the Family Violence Center, the Pediatric Health Center, the Learning Center, Housing Services, Young at Heart Senior Center and the Interfaith Homeless Network program. Neighbors seeking services at NAM often receive more than one service and participate in more than one program.During its last Fiscal Year (October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019) NAM touched the lives of more than 130,000 people through its many programs and services. The EmergencyBasic Needs provided assistance to 16,569 individuals with 13,329 specific services which included food, homelessness prevention, clothing,transportation, prescription medicines, and referrals. The Back to School Project provided 1,785 children with school supplies,allowing the students to return to school ready to learn. The 2018 Holiday Project provided 1,972 children with holiday toys. TheJoanne Watford Nutrition Center (JWNC), a client choice pantry thatallows individuals to shop for food based on their family size and needs,provided food for 15,953 individualsresulting in 22,103 service units.As part of the Senior Food Program, 129 low income seniors received monthly supplemental groceries. In 2018, more than 800 families received Thanksgiving meals and 1,000 received Holiday meals. Mealson Wheels (MOW) provided 197,547 hot nutritious meals to 1,177 homebound seniors and disabledindividuals. In addition, 100 individuals received Saturdayfrozen meals and monthly grocery deliveries to increase their food budgets. Asprescribed by their physicians, 40 seniors received weekly nutritional supplements. TheFamily Violence Center (FVC) provided assistance to 422 individuals resulting in 4,970 visits and 64,688 ancillary services such as crisis intervention, shelterreferrals, and legal advocacy in addition to traditional case managementservices. A highlight for FVC is the 3,322 safety plans that were developed forclients needing safety from their batterers. The FVC Hotline received 5,954 calls. Another 5,959 communitymembers participated in teen education presentations or awareness events. The FVC also successfully completed a pilothousing program which provides safe housing for 72 families fleeing domestic violence. The Pediatric Health Center treated2,631 individual children resultingin 8,499 patient visits, 2,799casemanagement services and 33,154 ancillary services including information, referrals, and follow-up. Through ourcollaborative partnership with Christus Healthy Living, NAM provided 109 children with 355 vaccines and 146 adults received basic health screenings. With NAM’s community partnerships with Prevent Blindness Texas,Community Health Choice, and Walgreens,NAM assisted 1,404 individuals toreceive ancillary services such as eye exams, applications for insurance andadult flu vaccines. The Learning Center* provided 210 adults with financial literacyclasses, with 89 of those attendingfinancial coaching. 243 students attended GED classes. NAM’s THRIVE programprovided 86 vocational scholarships,with 70 of them obtaining jobs.Career fairs were well-attended with 453 attendees. The adult education class participation and Workforce ConnectorsPrograms were at an all-time high with 489 individual attendees and 1,132 clients respectivelyHousingServices provided 234 individuals with 3,329 case manager services such as housing search andplacement, housing stability, and other supportive services. At any given timethroughout the year, the Housing Department provides homes for 75 families each month. Young at Heart Senior Center, formally knownas 50 , served 397 senior individuals who participated in 8,449 senior services such as physical fitness, dance, generalwell-being classes and community field trips. The 60 Café congregate mealprogram provided 2,582 rides to thecenter and served 6,913 meals. The Interfaith Homeless Network providedassistance to 164 individuals, with 14 being navigated intostable housing. In addition, 200 referrals for services (move-inkits, cleaning supplies, street kits, etc.), were given viacongregations. NAM provided Disaster Relief assistance to 1,472 individualswith 7,148 individualized services including mortgageassistance, furniture, appliances and home repairs. Since the wake ofHarvey in 2017, NAM has provided services to more than 15,000 individuals, impacting over 5,000unduplicated households. NAM’s disaster relief workresulted in local, state and national recognition. NAM’s work washighlighted by the Greater Houston Community Foundation as a best practice forcollaborations and our efforts to address the needs of Rosewood Mobile HomeCommunity. Our work with the Rosewoodcommunity resulted in replacing 7 mobile homes and repairing 25 mobilehomes.
For the year ended September 30, 2021, Northwest Assistance Ministries program expenses were:
| Assistance | $4,635,282 |
| Family violence | $903,158 |
| Medical lservices | $1,446,106 |
| Learning center | $434,714 |
| Resale shop | $351,751 |
| Seniors | $1,870,177 |
| Program Expenses | $9,641,188 |
Governance & Staff
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CEO
Mr. Les Cave, President/CEO
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Compensation*
¤216,259.00
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Board Chair
Mr. James B Fryfogle, Retired, VP Bulk Supplies & Logistics, Plain All American Pipeline
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
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Board Size
17
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Paid Staff Size
83
Governance
* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.
Fundraising
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).
% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 7.63%
Tax Status
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Financial
The following information is based on Northwest Assistance Ministries's Audited financial statements - consolidated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021
| Source of Funds | |
|---|---|
| Government grants | $4,333,113 |
| Contributions | $4,003,173 |
| Donated goods and services | $2,311,789 |
| Net assets released from restrictions | $865,426 |
| Miscellaneous income | $336,353 |
| Program service fees | $247,255 |
| Sales | $192,052 |
| Total Income | $12,289,161 |
Breakdown of Expenses
| Total Income | $12,289,161 |
| Total Expenses: | $11,351,045 |
| Program Expenses | $9,641,188 |
| Fundraising Expenses | $650,447 |
| Administrative Expenses | $1,059,410 |
| Other Expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $938,116 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $9,736,333 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $2,423,775 |
| Ending Net Assets | $13,098,224 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,557,174 |
| Total Assets | $14,655,398 |
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