CONNECT
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4 Gerrish Avenue Chelsea, MA 02150 |
[P] (617) 889-1375 [F] (617) 884-8406 |
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www.connectnow.org [email protected] Marissa Guananja |
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INCORPORATED: 1979
Printable Profile (Summary / Full) EIN 04-2660283 |
LAST UPDATED: 01/04/2019 |
| Organization DBA | -- |
|---|---|
| Former Names | -- |
| Organization received a competitive grant from the Boston Foundation in the past five years | No |
Summary
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Mission StatementMORE »CONNECT is a partnership of six well regarded nonprofits who have come together to co-locate and bundle complementary services to increase the impact of those services on the economic outcomes of our low-income clients. Our shared mission is to integrate, in one central and supportive Chelsea location, resources to address our community’s financial, housing, educational and employment needs, while nurturing social networks to provide the glue and sustenance for each low-income individual’s and family’s journey toward economic security. The partners are:
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Mission StatementCONNECT is a partnership of six well regarded nonprofits who have come together to co-locate and bundle complementary services to increase the impact of those services on the economic outcomes of our low-income clients. Our shared mission is to integrate, in one central and supportive Chelsea location, resources to address our community’s financial, housing, educational and employment needs, while nurturing social networks to provide the glue and sustenance for each low-income individual’s and family’s journey toward economic security. The partners are:
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Financials
| Fiscal Year | Jan 01, 2013 to Dec 31, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Projected Income | $1,237,350.00 |
| Projected Expense | $1,226,000.00 |
Programs
- CONNECT
Revenue vs. Expense ($000s)
Expense Breakdown 2013 (%)
Expense Breakdown 2012 (%)
Expense Breakdown (%)
No data available
For more details regarding the organization's financial information, select the financial tab and review available comments.
Overview
Mission Statement
CONNECT is a partnership of six well regarded nonprofits who have come together to co-locate and bundle complementary services to increase the impact of those services on the economic outcomes of our low-income clients. Our shared mission is to integrate, in one central and supportive Chelsea location, resources to address our community’s financial, housing, educational and employment needs, while nurturing social networks to provide the glue and sustenance for each low-income individual’s and family’s journey toward economic security. The partners are:
- Bunker Hill Community College
- Career Source
- Centro Latino
- The Neighborhood Developers
- Metro Credit Union
- Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
Background Statement
• Bunker Hill Community College provides certificate and college coursework and financial aid assistance;
• Career Source–part of the state’s One Stop Career Center system delivers job placement services and career counseling;
• Centro Latino is our community's adult education provider of ESOL, GED and computer classes;
• The Neighborhood Developers provides affordable housing, financial education, financial coaching and peer support programming;
• Metro Credit Union provides access to financial services; and
• Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership helps CONNECT clients to maintain affordable housing and to access the Family Self Sufficiency matched savings program.
Impact Statement
CONNECT is a systems changing program in which six non-profits formally collaborate to help low-income residents advance towards family sustaining jobs and household financial stability. The program was launched in January 2012. Joanne Goldstein, MA Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, praised the CONNECT model saying that collaborative efforts are “the direction we all need to go in” noting that “single stand alone programs can’t move a family out of poverty.” In June 2012, the program was selected for a highly competitive US Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Grant for its model programming.
1. CONNECT bundles housing stabilization services with education and workforce development services. Research indicates that CONNECT's four service areas are critically important for moving from a place of economic hardship to economic security.
Housing Stabilization and Income Supports
Financial Capabilities Education and Services
Employment Placement and Counseling
Adult Education
2. CONNECT’s collaborative structure supports a nimble and adaptive program. CONNECT brings already established programs together, avoiding duplication of services, and allows for a broader array of braided services. The CONNECT model builds on research-proven best practices and employs a learning oriented evaluation system that allows for on-going refinement and adaptation to changing needs.
3. CONNECT builds social networks to support client outcomes as peer-to-peer relationships and a broad network are critical to the success of individuals pursuing a path to greater economic security by providing support, motivation for goal persistence, and by expanding an individual’s ambitions.
Needs Statement
CEO Statement
Board Chair Statement
CONNECT provides the Chelsea and surrounding community with a historic opportunity to assist low-income households to tap into resources that will help them to move out of poverty. The story of one of our clients illustrates how CONNECT can impact lives. Three years ago, Renee went through a tough financial stretch. Homeless, she lived in a motel with her two children until she found an affordable place to live. An advertisement for budgeting assistance led her to CONNECT where she completed financial management workshops, and soon Renee began a process of one-on-one financial coaching. Working with her coach, she learned to develop a budget and opened a savings account so she could begin to build her own safety net. When Renee speaks about her progress, she thinks back on the milestones that she has achieved. “At first I was homeless. Then I became house-able. Now I am employable.” Even though she is now working full-time, Renee’s next big step is to head back to college. “As a person begins to transition in their life, there will be other programs there for each step of their life,” said Renee, praising the CONNECT model.
Geographic Area Served
In a specific U.S. city, cities, state(s) and/or region.
GREATER BOSTON REGION, MA
CONNECT
serves clients from Boston’s Metro North region, though most come to CONNECT
from Chelsea and three abutting cities.
Organization Categories
- Human Services - Financial Counseling
- Employment - Job Training
- Education - Adult Education
Independent research has been conducted on this organization's theory of change or on the effectiveness of this organization's program(s)
Yes
Programs
CONNECT
As a six-party collaboration, CONNECT offers many programs in the following areas:
CONNECT's coaches and intake staff help clients to tap into the services available across the partners. We encourage staff to make a plan with a financial coach, and then access the many services that will help them to reach their financial goals. |
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| Budget | 1,750,000 |
|---|---|
| Category | Human Services, General/Other Financial Counseling |
| Population Served | Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent Unemployed, Underemployed, Dislocated Minorities |
| Program Short-Term Success | Annually, CONNECT seeks to serve 4,000 individuals, with 2,000 utilizing two or more services at CONNECT each year. The milestones that our clients make are indicators that they are working on economic goals and include:
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| Program Long-Term Success | CONNECT's data collection system allows the program to monitor client outcomes on these financial indicators:
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| Program Success Monitored By | CONNECT has established a new database that can electronically communicate across the partnering agencies by downloading and uploading electronic files. This is evidence of the partnering agencies working to create new systems and is an important outcome of our work.This interagency database is critically important as it will allow the partners to know how clients enter into CONNECT and what services are then utilized, and what outcomes are achieved. Additionally, CONNECT has secured resources to hire a third party evaluator to measure our outcomes over the next three years. The evaluation will be led by Mt. Auburn Associates based out of Cambridge. |
| Examples of Program Success | 2455 clients were served at CONNECT by one of the partnering agencies since the beginning of 2012. Of these, 480 completed our intake process (indicating that they wanted to return for additional services), and of these 112 have returned to CONNECT for two or more services after their first appointment. Ingrid is a single mother who first came to CONNECT for its housing related services, and now continues to utilize services that give her hope and a path for a better future for her family. She came to a CONNECT orientation, enrolled in a matched savings program, took a Credit workshop and engaged in Financial Coaching. Her dream is to help her 12 year old daughter to go to college when the time comes, and to provide for a better life for her family. Equipped with a recent credit report and new strategies to deal with creditors, she was able to start paying off some debt. She is looking to identify her spending patterns and enhance her financial capability. |
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| CONNECT received a huge boost in mid-2012 when the federal Department of Labor and Workforce Development selected CONNECT as one of 24 programs nationwide for a multi-year $3 million grant. This award quadruples CONNECT's resources allowing the partners to realize our bold vision. Our long-term goal is to build support for CONNECT so that the program can sustain its incredible momentum. We are hopeful that the work we are doing is going to prove fruitful and encourage future collaboration. |
Management
| CEO/Executive Director | Ms. Ann Houston |
|---|---|
| CEO Term Start | Nov 2003 |
| CEO Email | [email protected] |
| CEO Experience | Chelsea is an exciting cosmopolitan city with great potential to do interesting work in a community committed to revitalization. I began work in Chelsea in 2004, taking over after a period of reorganization sparked by a Board of Directors dedicated to creating more housing opportunities in Chelsea. My work in affordable housing and community development began more than 25 years ago. I learned my trade and developed a broad network of colleagues by working in leadership positions at Massachusetts Housing Partnership, Codman Square NDC, Valley Opportunity Council in Chicopee and Holyoke, and as a residential and commercial lender for Mass Development/Mass Government Land Bank. I enjoy lecturing and serve on numerous boards and policy committees; I am a former President of Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). I earned a masters in Real Estate Development from MIT, and a BA in Community Planning from UMass Boston. |
| Co-CEO | -- |
| Co-CEO Term Start | -- |
| Co-CEO Email | -- |
| Co-CEO Experience | -- |
Former CEOs and Terms
| Name | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Senior Staff
| Name | Title | Experience/Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Marissa Guananja | Director of Resident Asset Development | -- |
Awards
| Award | Awarding Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Affiliations
| Affiliation | Year |
|---|---|
| -- | -- |
| Member of state association of nonprofits? | No |
|---|---|
| Name of state association | -- |
External Assessments and Accreditations
| External Assessment or Accreditation | Year |
|---|---|
| -- | -- |
Collaborations
CONNECT is a collaboration!
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
--
Foundation Comments
--
Staff Information
| Number of Full Time Staff | 1 |
|---|---|
| Number of Part Time Staff | 0 |
| Number of Volunteers | 30 |
| Number of Contract Staff | 1 |
| Staff Retention Rate % | -- |
Staff Demographics
| Ethnicity | African American/Black: 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander: 0 Caucasian: 2 Hispanic/Latino: 3 Native American/American Indian: 0 Other: 0 Other (if specified): 0 |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female: 6 Male: 0 Not Specified 0 |
Plans & Policies
| Organization has Fundraising Plan? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Organization has Strategic Plan? | Yes |
| Years Strategic Plan Considers | N/A |
| Management Succession Plan | -- |
| Business Continuity of Operations Plan | No |
| Organization Policies And Procedures | Yes |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Yes |
| Whistle Blower Policy | Yes |
| Document Destruction Policy | Yes |
| Directors and Officers Insurance Policy | -- |
| State Charitable Solicitations Permit | -- |
| State Registration | -- |
Risk Management Provisions
| -- |
Reporting and Evaluations
| Management Reports to Board? | Yes |
|---|---|
| CEO Formal Evaluation and Frequency | Yes Annually |
| Senior Management Formal Evaluation and Frequency | Yes Annually |
| Non Management Formal Evaluation and Frequency | Yes Annually |
Governance
| Board Chair | Ms. Ann Houston |
|---|---|
| Board Chair Company Affiliation | The Neighborhood Developers |
| Board Chair Term | Jan 2012 - Dec 2013 |
| Board Co-Chair | -- |
|---|---|
| Board Co-Chair Company Affiliation | -- |
| Board Co-Chair Term | - |
Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. Charlene Bauer | Metropolitan Credit Union | Voting |
| Ms. Ann Houston | The Neighborhood Developers | Voting |
| Mr. Christopher Norris | Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership | Voting |
| Ms. Linda Rohrer | Career Surce | Voting |
| Ms. Vanessa Shannon | Bunker Hill Community College | Voting |
| Mr. Juan Vega | Centro Latino | Voting |
Constituent Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Youth Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Advisory Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Board Demographics
| Ethnicity | African American/Black: 1 Asian American/Pacific Islander: 0 Caucasian: 4 Hispanic/Latino: 1 Native American/American Indian: 0 Other: 0 Other (if specified): -- |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female: 4 Male: 2 Not Specified 0 |
Board Information
| Board Term Lengths | -- |
|---|---|
| Board Term Limits | -- |
| Board Meeting Attendance % | -- |
| Written Board Selection Criteria | No |
| Written Conflict Of Interest Policy | Yes |
| Percentage of Monetary Contributions | 0% |
| Percentage of In-Kind Contributions | 100% |
| Constituency Includes Client Representation | No |
Standing Committees
- Advisory Board / Advisory Council
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
As a multi-party collaboration, CONNECT has developed a governing structure that is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding. Each of the six organizations is a Managing Partner; the Executive Director or a senior manager represents each managing partner on the CONNECT governing board that meets monthly. The Neighborhood Developers serves as CONNECT's sole operational partner. In this role, TND is responsible for CONNECT's facility, personnel, financial management and overall program management. The Core Services Team includes one or more representatives from each managing partner; this team meets monthly to integrate programming.
Foundation Comments
--
Financials
Revenue vs. Expense ($000s)
Expense Breakdown 2013 (%)
Expense Breakdown 2012 (%)
Expense Breakdown (%)
No data available
| Fiscal Year | Jan 01, 2013 to Dec 31, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Projected Income | $1,237,350.00 |
| Projected Expense | $1,226,000.00 |
| Form 990s | |
| Audit Documents | |
| IRS Letter of Exemption |
Prior Three Years Total Revenue and Expense Totals
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1,800,000 | $1,237,357 | -- |
| Total Expenses | $1,757,019 | $1,226,013 | -- |
Prior Three Years Revenue Sources
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation and Corporation Contributions |
$241,000 | $137,000 | -- |
| Government Contributions | $1,040,000 | $580,200 | -- |
| Federal | $1,000,000 | $525,000 | -- |
| State | $40,000 | $55,200 | -- |
| Local | -- | -- | -- |
| Unspecified | -- | -- | -- |
| Individual Contributions | $25,000 | -- | -- |
| Indirect Public Support | -- | -- | -- |
| Earned Revenue | -- | -- | -- |
| Investment Income, Net of Losses | -- | -- | -- |
| Membership Dues | -- | -- | -- |
| Special Events | -- | -- | -- |
| Revenue In-Kind | -- | $20,000 | -- |
| Other | $494,000 | $500,157 | -- |
Prior Three Years Expense Allocations
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Expense | $1,421,432 | $1,016,591 | -- |
| Administration Expense | $295,587 | $169,422 | -- |
| Fundraising Expense | $40,000 | $40,000 | -- |
| Payments to Affiliates | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Revenue/Total Expenses | 1.02 | 1.01 | -- |
| Program Expense/Total Expenses | 81% | 83% | -- |
| Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue | 3% | 6% | -- |
Prior Three Years Assets and Liabilities
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | -- | -- | -- |
| Current Assets | -- | -- | -- |
| Long-Term Liabilities | -- | -- | -- |
| Current Liabilities | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Net Assets | -- | -- | -- |
Prior Three Years Top Three Funding Sources
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (Source and Amount) |
-- -- |
Metro North Regional Employment Board / US Department of Labor $1,000,000.00 |
-- -- |
| 2nd (Source and Amount) |
-- -- |
Boston LISC & the United Way of Greater Boston & Merrimack Valley $90,000.00 |
-- -- |
| 3rd (Source and Amount) |
-- -- |
MA Dept of Housing and Community Development $60,000.00 |
-- -- |
Financial Planning
| Endowment Value | $0.00 |
|---|---|
| Spending Policy | N/A |
| Percentage(If selected) | 0.0% |
| Credit Line | No |
| Reserve Fund | No |
| How many months does reserve cover? | -- |
Capital Campaign
| Are you currently in a Capital Campaign? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Capital Campaign Purpose | The CONNECT Capital Campaign seeks to raise $609,000 to to renovate and expand TND's offices to provide dedicated programming space for CONNECT. |
| Campaign Goal | $609,000.00 |
| Capital Campaign Dates | Jan 2012 - Dec 2014 |
| Capital Campaign Raised-to-Date Amount | $139,000.00 |
| Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years? | No |
Short Term Solvency
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities | nan | nan | -- |
Long Term Solvency
| Fiscal Year | 2013 | 2012 | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term Liabilities/Total Assets | nan% | nan% | -- |
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
Foundation Comments
Documents
Impact
The Impact tab is a section on the Giving Common added in October 2013; as such the majority of nonprofits have not yet had the chance to complete this voluntary section. The purpose of the Impact section is to ask five deceptively simple questions that require reflection and promote communication about what really matters – results. The goal is to encourage strategic thinking about how a nonprofit will achieve its goals. The following Impact questions are being completed by nonprofits slowly, thoughtfully and at the right time for their respective organizations to ensure the most accurate information possible.