At Leaven Kids, we don’t take trust lightly. We know that every time you donate your time or your money, you have an expectation that we will do what we say we will do. Think of our Mission as our bond: we will “share the love and compassion of Christ through acts of mercy and help to our neighbors.” No ifs, buts or ands – simply put, we exist to help communities and kids.
Independent Board
Our board members are not employees of Leaven Kids, have no conflicts of interest and receive no compensation.
Fiduciary Responsibility
Our board members have accepted a position of trust, granted to them by donors, grantors and community stakeholders, to manage and protect the assets of Leaven Kids.
Donations Stay in the Community
Although Leaven Kids has programs in both Northern and Southern California, each area is independently funded. Also, donations given specifically for a single center are used for that center’s activities.
Annual Audit
Each year, an independent auditor reviews our financial records and publishes an audit that notes discrepancies, if any.
990 Report
We file an annual report to the Internal Revenue Service, called a 990. This reports on our financials and significant policies, and is a public document.
Use of Funds
Seventy-five cents of every dollar we receive goes directly to our programs. The other 25 cents covers our administration, management and fundraising.
Reserve Funds
Without holding excessive funds that were donated to fulfill our mission, Leaven Kids maintains a small reserve fund so we can meet our financial obligations if income were to decline.
Accountability
We regularly have our programs formally and informally reviewed by local educators who hold us accountable to helping kids succeed in the classroom.
Reporting
We meet all requirements for submitting reports to our grantors, showing them how funds were used and the impact they made.
Guests Welcome
Donors are welcome to arrange a visit to a center to see Leaven Kids' programs for themselves.
Staff Training is Vigorous
New site directors attend extensive training sessions and work one-on-one with an experienced site director before being placed in a leadership role at a center.
Confidentiality is Never Compromised
We safeguard our donor’s records and our volunteers’ personal information.
Volunteers are Background Checked
No one is allowed to volunteer at a Leaven center without first undergoing an extensive background check that is provided by law enforcement.
Centers are Secured
Every Leaven center has extra security to ensure the safety of our students and our property.
Children’s Privacy is Protected
A child’s name, photo or story is not used without permission or without removing information that could be used to potentially harm that child.