Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc

The information for Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc is as of the organization's most recent filing in June '22. This organization is located in Atlanta, GA. It has been in existence for 25 years, following its founding in 1997.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc's NTEE code is R20. The "R" tells us that the organization is classified along with Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy. The "20" tells us that the organization is focused on Civil Rights. The NTEE describes Civil Rights organizations as those that work for the passage and enforcement of laws or other social measures to protect the rights of specific groups. The organization's mission is to educate the community and recruit, train, and supervise court-appointed volunteers to advocate for the best interest, safety, and permanent placement of abused and neglected children in foster care.

Program Areas

Within the general fund, the organization reports all revenues, support, and functional expenses that are not specifically reported by another fund or program. In the year ended June 30, 2022, Atlanta CASA achieved this through various programs. The Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates (Atlanta CASA) Advocacy program focuses on education advocacy to ensure the specialized education needs of children in foster care are addressed. They also work with the Family Dependency Treatment Court (FTDC) to treat parents with substance abuse issues and address parenting deficits. Additionally, Atlanta CASA has a recruitment program to attract volunteers and a training program to prepare and enhance the advocacy skills of their volunteers. The organization also follows the Sanctuary Model, which promotes a trauma-informed community for their staff, volunteers, and the families they serve.

Organization Staffing

Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc is run by Vanessa J Payne, who is the Executive Director. The organization has 12 employees, none of whom are paid over $100k per year. Supporting the small staff are 162 volunteers.

Board Governance

Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc appears to be a well-governed non-profit organization based on the provided information. The organization has a total of 11 voting members, all of whom are independent, indicating a diverse and unbiased decision-making process. The absence of potential conflicts of interest further enhances the organization's credibility and ensures that the board's decisions are made in the best interest of the organization and its beneficiaries. The fact that the organization has not delegated management to an outside firm suggests that it maintains control and oversight over its operations. This allows for greater transparency and accountability within the organization. Additionally, the documentation of board meetings and committee meetings indicates a commitment to record-keeping and transparency. The presence of a conflict of interest policy highlights the organization's dedication to ethical practices. Requiring disclosure of conflicts and having a written whistleblower policy further demonstrates the organization's commitment to addressing any potential misconduct or unethical behavior. The existence of a document retention policy ensures that important records and documents are properly maintained and accessible when needed. Although the organization does not substantiate and review leadership and officer's salaries, the fact that they provide copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing shows a commitment to financial transparency. This allows the board to review and assess the organization's financial activities and ensure that resources are being utilized appropriately. Overall, Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc appears to have a strong governance structure in place, with policies and procedures that promote transparency, accountability, and ethical practices.

Organization Growth

Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc has experienced a decrease in various aspects over the given time period. Contributions and grants received decreased from $1.4 million in 2014 to $762.0 thousand in 2021. Total revenue also decreased from $1.4 million in 2014 to $762.4 thousand in 2021. Additionally, the organization saw a decrease in the number of employees, with a decrease from 15 in 2014 to 12 in 2021. The total number of volunteers also decreased from 167 in 2014 to 162 in 2021. However, it is worth noting that employee salaries increased from $275.8 thousand in 2014 to $667.5 thousand in 2021. Overall, the nonprofit organization has experienced a decrease in various aspects, indicating a potential decline or stagnation in growth over the given time period.