Military Family Advisory Network
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
Military Family Advisory Network meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Purpose
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Year, State Incorporated
2013, VA
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Stated Purpose
To understand and amplify the needs of military-connected families and inspire data-informed change.
Programs
Research and Program Evaluation: MFAN fields a biennial qualitative survey, The Military Family Support Programming Survey, to Gain insight into the support needs of our Nation's military, veterans, and their families. This research provides a comprehensive review of their lived experiences, covering topics like child care, family relationships, finances, food security, health and well-being, housing, and transition. The findings from this research shape our programming, as they illuminate areas where military families seek additional support, education, and resources. This allows us to bring together and inform nonprofit organizations, armed forces leadership, policymakers, and other stakeholders to enact positive change for the military community.Connecting Military families to resources: to create a launchpad for food-related support for military families, In April 2021, MFAN designed and implemented the 1Million Meals Challenge, a Nationwide campaign to combat the upsetting trend of rising of hunger in the military community. The campaign promised to bring together key players corporate sponsors, military families, food bank partners, elected officials, military leaders, and subject matter experts to identify both immediate and long-term solutions to food insecurity. MFAN announced a three-pronged approach; hosting local food distributions in areas of the country where food support is needed most, connecting families to ongoing support and resources, and conducting research to understand and ultimately address underlying factors that lead to food insecurity among military families. MFAN officially distributed over one million meals to over6,700 military families, each of whom received an average of 50 pounds of nutritious food at every distribution at no cost. As part of this work, MFAN launched the combat military hunger task force to identify long-term, scalable, and sustainable programs to support military families experiencing food insecurity.MFAN Advisory Board: Since 2013, MFAN has convened a group of military and veteran spouses, who are also leaders in their communities, in order to form a fuller understanding of what military families need and value. The MFAN advisory board is a diverse group of military and veteran spouse leaders, changemakers, and champions for military families. They bring together years of military life experience and aredispersed throughout the country near military installations of all branches of service. These dedicated volunteers serve as ambassadors - representing their active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran communities. In 2021 MFAN welcomed our fifth cohort consisting of 13 members who will serve a two year term. Through monthly convenings, The advisory board shares what they are hearing in their communities, giving MFAN a better understanding of the challenges facing military families and how to best serve them. This relay of information is crucial to fueling MFAN's research and paves the path forward for Data-driven organizational programming and partnerships.Convening of Coalitions: One of the most effective ways MFAN creates change for military families is through the convening of coalitions. our coalitions bring together best-in-class partners in both the public and private sectors to share programs and resources, discuss emerging trends, and develop actionable recommendations for those in positions of leadership and influence. In target three areas of focus - financial readiness, food insecurity, and housing.Military Family Financial Readiness Coalition (MFFRC) MFFRC convenes both public and private organizations committed to the financial wellness and stability of military families. This coalition provides an opportunity for organizations with a vested interest in the financial well-being of military families to share ideas, lessons learned, best practices, challenges, and opportunities to more effectively serve our families and respond to their evolving needs. IN addition to informing the work of its participants in their financial education efforts and initiatives, the MFFRC yields actionable information that educates and informs policymakers.Military Family Food Insecurity Coalition Created in 2018, the MFFIC shares research and resources, raises awareness, and develops solutions that alleviate hunger among our military and veteran communities. The coalition is comprised of military-connected nonprofits, advocacy and education organizations, policymakers, subject matter experts industry leaders, food banks, and more.Military Housing Roundtable The military housing roundtable MHR is a network of trusted, best-in-class stakeholders from organizations across the public and private sectors working to ensure that military and veteran families have access to healthy, safe and affordable housing regardless of where the military send them. The MHR convenes housing leaders and advocates and builds on best practices to develop and recommend policy and programmatic solutions.VetCents is a financial educational program website that MFAN created specifically for military veterans and veteran family members, in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs, Association of Military Banks of America, AFCPE, and NFCC.MilMap: With moves every 2.5 years, it can be hard to get connected to the local community. MFAN created MilMap, a user-generated resource locator that helps military families find organizations in their area that can offer support and camaraderie. All they have to do is put in their ZIP code or duty station! Military families can also add information about the organizations they are involved with. The MFAN team then vets those programs before adding them to MilMap.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, Military Family Advisory Network program expenses were:
| Program expenses | $3,806,951 |
| Program Expenses | $3,806,951 |
Governance & Staff
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Board Chair
Mrs. Rosemary Williams, Executive Officer
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
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Board Size
8
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Paid Staff Size
7
Fundraising
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.), Solicitations for Used Cars.
% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 1.98%
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 Military Family Advisory Network's Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021
| Source of Funds | |
|---|---|
| Contributions and sponsorships | $2,584,524 |
| Donated goods and services | $2,429,500 |
| Other income from load forgiveness | $93,507 |
| Other income | $4,541 |
| Investment income | $400 |
| Total Income | $5,112,472 |
Breakdown of Expenses
| Total Income | $5,112,472 |
| Total Expenses: | $4,107,065 |
| Program Expenses | $3,806,951 |
| Fundraising Expenses | $99,214 |
| Administrative Expenses | $200,900 |
| Other Expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $1,005,407 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $387,688 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $1,393,095 |
| Total Liabilities | $265,839 |
| Total Assets | $1,658,934 |
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