Financial Analysis of Nonprofits

Name: College Preparation Association (CPA) Mission Statement: The College Preparation Association strives to provide core subject tutoring, career counseling, mentorship opportunities, and academic advisement to students nearing entry into college. To accomplish these objectives the College Preparation Association will: 1. - Counsel students on the college entrance essay process. 2. Counsel students and their families on college applications, FASA forms, scholarship, and loan documents, 3. Develop and maintain a mentorship program that allows current high school students to maintain contact with current college students in regards to all academic, social, financial, and campus related questions. 4. Counsel students on career aspirations and help to identify appropriate schools that will meet those aspirations. 5. Enhance necessary academic study skills through instruction, tutoring, SAT/ACT preparation and coordination of college services that the student may need.

6. Provide local high school students with the opportunity to visit local college campuses and speak with college professionals and advisors. Problem Statement: High school students need to be more prepared when entering into college – academically, economically, financially, and socially. Many students need guidance on the college application process, necessary procedures after admittance, and various academic skills that will allow them to be successful once their course of study has begun. Academically, an increasing number of community colleges have been adding sections of remedial English and Mathematics to their curriculums. These courses are intended to bring students up to speed with college level study in these respective fields. In addition, more colleges are advocating for research and writing skills courses to introduce students to the nuances of college study that they may not be learning in high school.

According to the Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles webpage, “only 60% of fourth-graders are passing state exams; below the state level in math but equal to the state in English.” Additionally, there is lower than average performance amongst low-income and minority students and only three-quarters of high school students are graduating on time. This percentage is lower than the state average rate. Furthermore, 88% of high school students in the area say that they plan on attending a two year or four year college (Education – Key Trends). Even more alarmingly, two indicators used by the Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles webpage show that high graduation rates are below average and that the number GED diplomas being granted are increasing. Even though the regional high school graduate rate is increasing, Poughkeepsie City School district had the lowest graduation rate at 54% (Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles, 2012, Topic Indicators – High School Graduation Rate). Furthermore, while the number of GED diplomas remained steady in Dutchess and Orange counties, Ulster saw a dramatic rise in GED diplomas from 2001 to 2006. This indicator is significant in that it shows that many students are not capable of making in through the state high school curriculum but still wish to pursue a credential like the GED in order to have some opportunity to enter a higher education institution in the future.

Finally, a third indicator entitled “Learning Outcomes – Plans of High School Graduates”, shows that Dutchess County has the highest share of students planning to attend a two year or four college in the region at 88%. The share of students planning to attend a four-year college fell four percentage points to from 47% to 43% from 2001 to 2010. In contrast and over the same time period, the number of students planning to attend a two-year college rose seven percentage points. Using this information, it is thus possible to discern that even though a significant percentage of students are planning on attending college after high school, students are having some difficulty either meeting the requirements for high school graduation and/or are pursuing a GED credential in order to enter a two-year community college.

Needs: By offering tutoring and academic advisement to first-generation college students and students located in economically depressed school districts. By focusing on grades 9-12, the organization aims to provide students with the necessary skills to complete their high school courses and act a supplement to college preparation in an after school-program format. Furthermore, the College Preparation Association can provide high school students with a mentoring capability with local college students to answer any questions they may have. We believe that this mentorship opportunity will allow high school students to learn first-hand what it takes to be a successful college student and what it takes to get there in high school.

Our organization will need information relating to graduation rates in Dutchess and surrounding counties, the importance of the SAT/ACT exam and average scores related to these exams, an exemplary mentorship program to model and its processes, and opinions from education professionals on skills that they feel new college students are lacking.

Sources of funding: 1. USA Funds - The mission of USA Funds is to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success. USA Funds targets populations of low-income, first generation students, foster children and minorities. Grants are awarded on a National level and are not determined by geographical constraints. Grants are awarded on a quarterly cycle that last date of acceptance for the fiscal year of 2012 is June 15th, 1700hrs eastern time. First time agency proposals must complete an eligibility quiz along with a letter of inquiry. Proposals must not include grants that solely support operating expenses and any building expenditures.

Further information can be accessed at http://www.usafunds.org/Pages/default.aspx .