PLATINUM2023

Kids Soar

Children, Youth and Family Programs

Roanoke, VA   |  http://www.kidsoar.org

Mission

Breaking the cycle of poverty through education and service

Notes from the nonprofit

Kids Soar is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization improving the quality of life of inner-city children living in poverty in the city of Roanoke, Virginia by providing free after-school and evening literacy training, tutoring and dinner, school supplies and programs such as Clothing Closet, Learn About Books Library, Christmas Angels and Camp. Programming includes services for parents and youth. Description Kids Soar, formerly the Community Outreach Program of Roanoke, was started in September of 1989 by the United Methodist Women of Trinity United Methodist Church, as an outreach to inner-city children of Roanoke, Virginia. Originally the group met weekly and had a warm meal together. Today, the program serves children of low socioeconomic status in Roanoke. The organization still has close ties to the United Methodist Church but is now a separate non-profit entity. All services are free to participants and open

Ruling year info

2003

Executive Director

Candace Hess

Main address

305 Mountain Ave Sw

Roanoke, VA 24016 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

UnitedUnited Methodist Community Outreach Program of Roanoke

EIN

01-0583325

NTEE code info

Children's and Youth Services (P30)

Remedial Reading, Reading Encouragement (B92)

Family Services (P40)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

If it is your nonprofit, add a problem overview.

Login and update

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Community Literacy Initiative

The Kids Soar Literacy Initiative is a non-ecumenical afterschool and summer program for 115 kindergarten through eighth grade children referred by schools for reading help. This licensed program is operated in partnership with Roanoke City Schools, Blue Ridge Literacy, Child Health Investment Partnership, Camp Alta Mons, the Junior League of Roanoke Valley and dozens of other partners. To provide holistic support systems that increase success, weekly parental attendance is required. Classes for parents help improve parenting, financial and health skills, so they will not only be better parents but will also have life skills to help them navigate in and appreciate our city and all that it offers. Non-native English speaking parents are offered English language classes. All services are free.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Parents

The goal of the Kids Soar Youth Program, which serves teens, is to help transition young people into responsible Christian adults with skills to navigate in modern society. Youth identify at least two short-term goals and two long-term goals for themselves by the end of the first year. They are expected to map out a plan to achieve their goals. By the end of the second year, it's expected that some of the short-term goals will have been achieved and that they are progressing with long-term goals. They will also have worked on at least four mission projects in our community, and at least one mission project outside of the community. By working on mission projects, youth realize the joy of helping others and learn that we can all make a difference in the world.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

Where we work

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of students who demonstrate improved overall literacy

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, Families

Related Program

Community Literacy Initiative

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Expected outcomes: 80% of children (30) will improve reading to be at or above their grade level as measured by Kidzlit and Fountas & Pinnell's Guided Reading (measured by Roanoke Public Schools).

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Kids Soar Program Goals

1. Increase number of children served to full capacity of the buildings
2. To have children reading at or above grade level by the end of 3rd grade
3. Increase family involvement and available educational opportunities
4. Increase community awareness and involvement
5. Increase attendance and engagement for students in the school environment
6. Support healthy living by encouraging healthy eating and outside play
7. Provide a positive volunteer experience to the members of our community who come to Kids Soar to make a difference in the lives of the children we serve.

Holistic services to improve children's education outcomes by working with the entire family.

Kids Soar has demonstrated over its 30-year history that it can effectively assist children with education and human needs programs using monetary and in-kind donations, part-time staff and hundreds of volunteers.

We are working with 90 families, and are currently renovating our building to increase services.

Financials

Kids Soar
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Kids Soar

Board of directors
as of 02/07/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Robert McAdam

Attorney

Term: 2021 - 2024


Board co-chair

Lisa Allison-Jones

Nancy Clemons

Retired Roanoke County Schools

Page Marshall

Coke-a-Cola

David Tanner

Retired United Methodist Clergy

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 10/27/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 10/27/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.