Lighthouse Youth & Family Services

This charity's score is 100 %, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.

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

• Impact & Measurement
• Accountability & Finance
• Culture & Community
• Leadership & Adaptability

100

This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.

Key Accountability Metrics

Majority Independent Board Members - 96% independent members

Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.

Independent Board Size - 25 independent members

Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members

Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee

An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:

Material Diversion of Assets - None

A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.

Tax Form Disclosures and Policies

Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed

Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.

Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed

Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.

This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.

Whistleblower Policy - Listed

Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.

This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.

Document Retention and Destruction - Listed

Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.

This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.

Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes

Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.

An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.

Website Disclosures

Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website as stated on Form 990 - Listed

For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.

Financial Metrics

Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 36.86%

The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.

Program Expense: Ratio - 84.72%

The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.

Additional Information

This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.

Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting

Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website

Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15 )

Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3 )

The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage accountability and finance data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name ( Lighthouse Youth & Family Services ) or EIN ( 237046229 ) in the 'Search Term' field.

Lighthouse Youth & Family Services cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Measurement methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.

Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.

100

This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.

Assessments

Constituent Feedback

100 out of 100 points

Does your organization collect feedback (i.e., perceptions, opinions, concerns) from the people meant to ultimately benefit from your mission?

• 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 across demographic groups
• To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
• To understand client needs and how we can help them achieve their desired outcomes

• We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually
• We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people
• We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible
• We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us
• We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.)
• We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.)
• We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

• It is difficult to get people to respond to requests for feedback

Equity Strategies™

100 out of 100 points

Equity Strategies™ - Number of Data, Policies & Processes

This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 14 Equity Practices.

The Equity Strategies™ checklist, developed by Equity in the Center™, consists of data, policies & processess that promote racial equity in operations and programs. The Equity Strategies™ were developed by Equity In The Center®, and collected in partnership with Candid.

We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.

We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served.

We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.

We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.

We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.

We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.

We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.

We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.

We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.

We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.

We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.

© 2019 Equity In The Center Inc. All Rights Reserved. Use of the Equity Strategies without prior written approval directly from Equity in the Center is strictly prohibited.

100

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.

Strategy

40 out of 40 points

The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission.

Lighthouse Youth & Family Services helps children, youth, and families reach their full potential. Lighthouse works to empower young people and families to succeed through care that promote healing and growth. Lighthouse offers mental and behavioral health services, foster care and adoption, community juvenile justice services, residential treatment, and homeless youth services, including emergency shelter and housing.

The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.

The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.

Goal One: Quality: Increase career development opportunities at all levels; provide meaningful opportunities for employee input, recognition, and engagement; and achieve 'best in class' service effectiveness.

Goal Two: Growth: grow the population served and increase focus on employment and job skills for clients served.

Goal Three: Influence: engage with community conveners to drive youth system change; sustain effort to improve awareness of Lighthouse services; and sustain or grow youth-serving programs.

Leadership

30 out of 30 points

Investment in Leadership Development

Lighthouse invests in leadership development in many ways. The first is the Relias Learning Management System which offers a wide range of courses that can be completed autonomously along with required annual continuing education. Leadership training is provided for managers through many different avenues, including workshops and long-term programs. Independent supervision hours are provided for those seeking licensure, and Lighthouse invests significantly in tuition reimbursement. Lighthouse also offers an internal mentorship program.

External Focus on Mobilizing Mission

The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.

Lighthouse leaders are involved in many collaborations with organizations, including the Ohio Children's Alliance, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Human Services Chamber of Hamilton County, Tristate Trauma Network, National Network for Youth, the National Network for Youth, and more. Lighthouse leaders frequently present at local, state, and national conferences, including the National Network for Youth. Topics on which Lighthouse expertise is sought include the juvenile justice system, youth homelessness, LGBTQ+ youth cultural competency, and behavioral health services. Lighthouse offers LGBTQ+ cultural competency training, the Personal Responsibility Education Program(PREP), and a range of professional training opportunities. The Lighthouse team works to raise awareness of our services in other ways, too. Staff is seen often at community events, parades, and open houses, and the agency is active on social media, appears in print articles, and maintains an engaging website.

Adaptability

30 out of 30 points

Investment in Leadership Development

The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.

The pandemic is undoubtedly like no other in our lives. Lighthouse has navigated many changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to work hard, learning and adapting as we go. Above all else, Lighthouse has remained committed to serving young people and families when and where they need it most. Lighthouse's door is always open and the light is always on, no matter what. Lighthouse's frontline workers – the direct support professionals who serve clients – remain our heroes. They are critical to the services provided to young people every day. We are proud and inspired by how our team members have risen to this enormous challenge - with flexibility, strength, courage, and caring. Adaptability is one of Lighthouse's Core Values: We meet the needs of our changing community. Never has this been more evident than during the pandemic. Staff not directly serving clients went above and beyond to support those who do. Keeping everyone safe is always a top priority. All pandemic-related supplies needed; face coverings, disinfectant, gloves, gowns, etc., were secured. The IT department guaranteed staff could remain in communication and get their work done from anywhere. The leadership worked around the clock, doing whatever was necessary to continue to serve young people and families without fail.