CATHEDRAL SQUARE
Advancing Healthy Homes, Caring Communities & Positive Aging since 1977
CATHEDRAL SQUARE
EIN: 03-0264362
as of November 2023
as of November 13, 2023
Mission
Cathedral Square is a national leader in affordable, service-enriched housing for older adults and people with disabilities. We operate 27 affordable-housing communities in Vermont, provide technical assistance to other nonprofits, and administer our nationally recognized SASH® (Support and Services at Home) program statewide. Since 1977 we have doggedly pursued our mission to advance “healthy homes, caring communities and positive aging.” Compassion for the least among us is a key value. We believe everyone has a right to decent, affordable housing and the support they need to live in health and dignity. At every level, we work collectively to ensure each resident has a safe and supportive home that is exactly that--a home. See our full mission statement here: cathedralsquare.org/mission.
Notes from the nonprofit
To learn more about our history, please visit https://cathedralsquare.org/history
Ruling year
1977
CEO
Kim Fitzgerald
Main address
412 Farrell St. Suite 100
South Burlington, VT 05403 USA
EIN
03-0264362
Housing development
Supportive housing
Elder housing
Housing services
Senior services
Population served
Seniors
Economically disadvantaged people
People with disabilities
NTEE code
Senior Citizens' Housing/Retirement Communities (L22)
Independent Housing for People with Disabilities (L24)
Health Support Services (E60)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Affiliations
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reports Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
With a growing need in Vermont for affordable housing for older adults, we are always looking ahead to develop new communities. Cathedral Square maintains our properties, develops new ones and provides a variety of programs and services to residents, including SASH® (Support and Services at Home), the comprehensive, nationally recognized program of care coordination that Cathedral Square designed and piloted in 2009. Funded in part by OneCare Vermont, SASH was developed in recognition of the fact that affordable-housing sites can serve as centers of health and wellness in addition to providing housing. A special highlight for the organization was the creation of Memory Care at Allen Brook in late 2017 as Vermont’s first affordable assisted-living residence for people living on Medicaid with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We’re always coming up with innovative approaches to solve problems and address needs based on our experience with the people we serve.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
SASH (Support and Services at Home)
Cathedral Square is the creator and statewide administrator of SASH, a nationally recognized, team-based program of care coordination shown to improve population health, save Medicare dollars and help people stay (or become) healthy so they can remain living at home. Operating from 140 affordable-housing communities throughout Vermont, SASH partners with 70+ organizations to provide comprehensive support to 5,000 older Vermonters and people with disabilities. Programs and services are provided free of charge where participants live. SASH is part of Vermont’s initiative to reform health care by investing in wellness and attending to the social determinants of health, including housing. SASH was replicated in Rhode Island in 2019 and expanded there in 2022. Also in 2022, a "SASH for All" pilot was started in two affordable-housing communities in southern Vermont, where it serves families with children in addition to older adults and people with disabilities.
Assisted Living & Memory Care
In 1999, Cathedral Square created Vermont's first licensed, affordable assisted-living community, located on the edge of downtown Burlington and occupying three floors of the Cathedral Square Senior Living independent living community. Forty apartments here are dedicated to assisted living, where residents receive outstanding support, meals and snacks, a full slate of activities, and personal care as needed. In 2017, Cathedral Square transformed the former Vermont Respite House in Williston into Vermont's first affordable housing for people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Memory Care at Allen Brook provides a home-like environment for residents of the 14 apartments here, all of whom are on Medicaid and benefit from the patented "Best Friends" approach to memory care.
Special-Purpose Housing
We operate three housing communities for special populations: Monroe Place, in partnership with Howard Center; South Burlington Community Housing; and Independence Place, in partnership with ANEW.
Independent Living Communities
Our 22 independent living communities feature spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments (except for the privately owned homes of Williston Woods) with community spaces for events and activities. Section 8 portable vouchers are accepted for all Cathedral Square homes that are not already subsidized. Many apartments have project-based rental assistance, which sets rent at 30% of household income, just like Section 8 vouchers. Tax-credit apartments, with lower-than-market-rate rents, are available as well. All Cathedral Square homes have eligibility requirements. Some are for those at least 55 years old, some are for people 62 and older or disabled, and some are exclusively for people of any age who need extra support or special accommodations. Many communities also offer market-rate apartments, which may have income requirements as well.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of donations made by board members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, People with disabilities, Extremely poor people, Homeless people, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
100% of Board members donate annually or more frequently.
Number of low-income families housed in affordable, well-maintained units as a result of the nonprofit's efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, Seniors, Families, People with disabilities, Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
2022: 93% of total 1,289 residents on 12/31/22. 2021: 93% of total 1,255 residents on 12/31/21. 2000: 92% of total 1,163 residents on 12/31/20.
Number of adults with disabilities living in congregate care facilities
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, People with disabilities, Chronically ill people, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Residents are at Memory Care at Allen Brook (14), Cathedral Square Assisted Living (32), South Burlington Community Housing (5), Independence Place (7) and Monroe Place (16).
Number of older adults being supported to live at home through home care, assistive technology, and/or personal support plans
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, Seniors, People with disabilities
Related Program
Assisted Living & Memory Care
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
As of 12/31/22, residents are at Memory Care at Allen Brook (14), Cathedral Square Assisted Living (32), South Burlington Community Housing (5), Independence Place (7) and Monroe Place (16).
Number of homeowners/tenants rating their feeling of safety in and around their homes as satisfactory
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with disabilities, Economically disadvantaged people, Families, Single parents
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This represents 98% of our total 1,289 residents. 98% of the respondents to our our 2022 Resident Survey indicated they felt safe living in a Cathedral Square community.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Cathedral Square provides affordable, supportive housing for older adults and people with disabilities in Vermont. We believe that every person, regardless of financial means, personal circumstance or stage of life, has the right to quality, stable housing and the supports they may need to live their life to the fullest in the place they call home. We recognize that stable, affordable housing is the foundation of health, financial stability, quality of life, and racial and social justice -- and that this is especially true as we age. At Cathedral Square, we offer a range of housing and support -- for older adults living independently, for people with disabilities, and for those needing extra help to remain living at home -- that is second to none.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We work tirelessly to increase the number of affordable, service-enriched apartments available to older adults and people with disabilities who have very low to modest incomes. Please refer to our strategic plan for details about the specific steps we are taking to realize this goal, which includes significantly expanding access to affordable memory care for people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have over 45 years of experience in housing development, HUD financing and regulations, tax-credit financing and regulations, and management and administration of assisted living and independent living housing communities. Our leadership team is widely recognized as experts in housing and services for older adults and people with disabilities. We created the statewide SASH (Support and Services at Home) program in 2009 and have served as the statewide administrator of this nationally recognized program since 2011.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Over the years, Cathedral Square has evolved into a pioneering organization with a nationally acclaimed program that promotes safe aging at home and an increasing focus on special-needs housing. With a growing need in Vermont for affordable housing for older adults — the waiting list for Cathedral Square housing alone hovers around 1,200 names — we are constantly striving to develop new housing. Soon after Allard Square opened in 2018 in South Burlington with 39 apartments, construction began on Juniper House, part of the Cambrian Rise development underway at the former site of Burlington College. Juniper House added another 70 apartments for older adults when it opened in March 2021. In November 2022, the first affordable senior housing community to open in the past 17 years in the Champlain Islands added 30 homes for older adults and new offices for the local nonprofit C.I.D.E.R. (Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources). We envision a time when all people, regardless of age, background or ability to pay, will live and thrive in safe, quality housing that is diverse and welcoming, with access to support and services to help them remain healthy, living at home, and thriving in their communities.
Cathedral Square by the numbers:
• 27 housing communities
• 1,009 homes
• 1,289 residents
• 93% are low income or very low income as defined by HUD
• 95% receive rent subsidies or have another type of discounted rent
• 27% are disabled or handicapped
• 25% had no home before coming to Cathedral Square
• 1,200 households are on the waitlist for Cathedral Square housing
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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 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
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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 demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), 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
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
0.39
Months of cash in 2022 info
4.7
Fringe rate in 2022 info
17%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
CATHEDRAL SQUARE
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Oct 01 - Sep 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Oct 01 - Sep 30
This snapshot of CATHEDRAL SQUARE’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $335,117 | $643,764 | $2,437,423 | $2,457,748 | $2,146,228 |
| As % of expenses | 3.0% | 5.3% | 19.6% | 19.0% | 15.9% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$104,191 | $185,267 | $1,984,728 | $2,037,473 | $1,693,542 |
| As % of expenses | -0.9% | 1.5% | 15.4% | 15.3% | 12.2% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $12,645,894 | $12,849,835 | $15,157,449 | $15,524,775 | $15,598,692 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 12.0% | 1.6% | 18.0% | 2.4% | 0.5% |
| Program services revenue | 55.3% | 53.4% | 44.4% | 46.9% | 48.2% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Government grants | 41.3% | 44.2% | 52.5% | 41.9% | 47.6% |
| All other grants and contributions | 3.2% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 7.8% | 3.1% |
| Other revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 0.8% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $11,168,170 | $12,214,203 | $12,420,720 | $12,906,640 | $13,458,115 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 14.4% | 9.4% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| Personnel | 57.8% | 63.7% | 62.5% | 60.9% | 60.9% |
| Professional fees | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Occupancy | 7.0% | 6.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.8% |
| Interest | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.0% |
| Pass-through | 9.0% | 7.7% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 7.8% |
| All other expenses | 21.3% | 18.1% | 19.6% | 22.2% | 22.5% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $11,607,478 | $12,672,700 | $12,873,415 | $13,326,915 | $13,910,801 |
| One month of savings | $930,681 | $1,017,850 | $1,035,060 | $1,075,553 | $1,121,510 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $185,561 | $206,850 | $1,248,851 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $2,786,175 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,846,700 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $15,324,334 | $13,876,111 | $14,115,325 | $15,651,319 | $16,879,011 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 3.9 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 4.7 |
| Months of cash and investments | 3.9 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 4.7 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 5.6 | 5.3 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 10.8 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $3,609,530 | $3,961,964 | $6,071,783 | $6,294,401 | $5,317,420 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $502,230 | $669,757 | $745,715 | $512,858 | $1,179,417 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $15,803,087 | $15,871,767 | $15,949,653 | $14,466,902 | $16,313,602 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 19.1% | 21.9% | 24.6% | 25.3% | 25.2% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 67.6% | 68.0% | 62.1% | 54.3% | 53.5% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $5,192,786 | $5,378,053 | $8,362,781 | $10,400,254 | $12,093,796 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $1,768,871 | $396,116 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $500,000 | $500,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $2,268,871 | $896,116 | $1,267,390 | $1,393,177 | $1,036,223 |
| Total net assets | $7,461,657 | $7,274,169 | $9,630,171 | $11,793,431 | $13,130,019 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
CEO
Kim Fitzgerald
Kim started at Cathedral Square in 1999 as a property manager and subsequently moved up to Director of Management, Chief of Finance, Chief of Operations and, in 2016, CEO. Prior to Cathedral Square, Kim worked for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency for almost 7 years in the Multi-Family Division as Management Coordinator. She serves on the COVE (Community of Vermont Elders) board and is a member of their policy committee. She was appointed by the Governor to the DAIL Advisory Board (https://dail.vermont.gov/). She graduated from the Vermont Leadership Institute (class of 2018) and is on the Development and Property Management Board for the Champlain Housing Trust. She also served as Vice President on the ANEW Place Board. Kim has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Vermont Housing Manager’s Association. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources, Assisted Housing Management, Tax Credit Management, and Rural Development Management.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
CATHEDRAL SQUARE
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
CATHEDRAL SQUARE
Board of directorsas of 06/14/2023
Board of directors data
Mohamed Basha
TLC Nursing
Term: 2022 - 2025
Mohamed Basha
TLC Nursing & Home Care
Craig Jones, MD
Privis Health
Stephanie Miller Taylor
R.E.M. Development/Miller Realty Group
Carol Moran-Brown
Champlain College (retired)
Shaun Gilpin
Vermont Dept. of Housing & Community Development
Greta Getlein
Cathedral Church of St. Paul
Carroll "Bud" Ockert
Retired Colonel, US Army
Jennifer Green
Burlington Electric Dept.
Chol Dhoor
Sudanese Foundation of Vermont
Nancy Snyder
Cathedral Square resident; retired Realtor
Tim Sampson
Downs Rachlin Martin
Mark Levine, MD
Vermont Dept. of Health
Aaron Ferenc
Vermont Dept. of Financial Regulation
Sarah Muyskens
Community Volunteer, Retired
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? 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? No
Organizational demographics
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
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/14/2023GuideStar 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
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- 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.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- 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.
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- Financial statements for 2021
- Letter of Determination
- Officer and/or Employee data for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2022, 2021, 2020
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