PLATINUM2024

Small Acts Big Change

Volunteering to save the world

LA CANADA, CA   |  www.smallactsbigchange.org

Mission

At Small Acts Big Change, we inspire students to change the world through small acts of kindness and service by providing opportunities to inspire youth to actively serve their community. Through service, our child/teen volunteers quickly learn that even the smallest act of kindness makes a big difference. They gain self-esteem and confidence, and they learn compassionate leadership skills that will serve them for life. Our core causes include campaigns to end child poverty, promote animal welfare and manage the way people deal with waste. Please join us to help create a better world through service education and a community-centered approach to social responsibility, conservation and activism.

Notes from the nonprofit

Thank you for learning more about Small Acts Big Change and how we work to create a better world for everyone.

Ruling year info

2014

Executive Director

Carolyn Marie Dundee

Vice President

Lauren Dundee

Main address

PO BOX 1374

LA CANADA, CA 91012 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

45-5636604

NTEE code info

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (O01)

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (D01)

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (C01)

IRS filing requirement

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

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We live in a rapidly changing world with problems so large that everyone needs to get involved to solve them such as world hunger, the way we deal with garbage and plastics, as well as inherent poverty. The planet needs everyone if we are going to solve these problems and create a better world. Sadly, many children and their families want to help make a difference, but they are often unable to find ways to give back to positively change the world. Small Acts Big Change helps people get involved by providing accessible volunteer opportunities for everyone to help create a better world, one act of kindness at a time.

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?

Suitcases of Smiles

The Small Acts Big Change Suitcases of Smiles Program provides children and teens entering foster care in Los Angeles with a small suitcase filled with essentials and comfort items to make their less frightening. In each suitcase, the foster child will find pajamas, toiletries, books, a stuffed animal, fuzzy socks, school supplies, crayons and a coloring book, and much more.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Where we work

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 new advocates recruited

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

Children and youth, Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of products distributed

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

Adults

Type of Metric

Context - describing the issue we work on

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Tracked areas of program impact

Number of distribution outlets for products

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

Children and youth, Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of programs documented

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

Children and youth, Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

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.

Provide accessible remote and in-person volunteer opportunities to people all over the world. We focus on projects that help people, animals, and the environment addressing issues such as hunger, poverty, pet overpopulation, plastic pollution, and forest rehabilitation.

We have set a 3-part approach to empowering volunteers to get involved to change the world. Focusing on one-on-one impact, we are able to create a better world one small act of kindness and volunteerism at a time. Influencing policy to make change for the better is also important, so we work on projects to improve the laws and codes to help protect people, animals, and the environment. Sadly, there are daily atrocities that have become accepted as part of our culture such as euthanizing millions of innocent, unwanted pets each year or accepting the cruelty put on the animals that is part of the factory farming industry. Children involved in volunteerism at a young age grow up to become compassionate and empowered people who make decisions to help not hurt.

Our accomplishments and impact through 2021:

* We provided 5,071 children in need with books to encourage literacy and learning.
* 2,494 people in need received a full set of clothing.
* We fed 5,092 injured, orphaned and rescued animals.
* We provided a complete meal to 3.503 people experiencing hunger.
* We sent 17,580 cards/letters to lonely seniors and children with disabilities.
* We donated 40,000+ tabs for recycling to Ronald McDonald House to support families of children receiving medical treatment.
* Random acts of kindness? We paid it forward 5,771 times.
* 2,868 students received a full set of supplies so that they have the necessary tools to do well in school.
* With the help of our partner organizations, we packed and gifted 52 Suitcases of Smiles to children entering foster care and to people living on the streets.
* 2,570 underprivileged children received toys to spread happiness and encourage learning.
* We packaged and distributed 2,494 hygiene kits to people living on the streets in the Los Angeles area.
* We rescued and sponsored 619 injured and/or homeless animals.
* 2,474 towels and blankets were provided for warmth to people and animals in need.
* We funded 32 spay/neuter surgeries to help reduce the number of unwanted pets in the Los Angeles area.
* We provided 1,267 toys to cats and dogs waiting for their forever homes.
* Litter clean-ups? We showed up 668 times to clean up the beaches and our community, removing 84,518 pieces of trash - we counted. Things are definitely a “Litter Bit Better.”
* 2,525 trees were planted to help fight global warming and to provide habitat for wildlife.
* And the really great news? Over 57,500 volunteers joined us to help create a better world.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback

Financials

Small Acts Big Change

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Operations

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

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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.

Small Acts Big Change

Board of directors
as of 05/05/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

818-802-1852 Carolyn Dundee

Small Acts Big Change

Term: 2023 - 2025

Mark Wayne Dundee

Elizabeth Ann Richman

Lauren Marie Dundee

Grace Elizabeth Dundee

Carolyn Marie Dundee

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? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • 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? Not applicable
  • 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 3/23/2022

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
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Decline to state

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

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

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 03/23/2022

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 ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • 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 use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • 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.