OPERATION DIGNITY INC
Forging pathways to housing.
OPERATION DIGNITY INC
EIN: 94-3176007
as of September 2023
as of September 18, 2023
Mission
Operation Dignity assists homeless veterans and their families. We provide emergency, transitional and permanent housing for homeless in Alameda County, California. We also offer comprehensive support services, nutritious meals and a strong peer community. Our goal is to help veterans rediscover hope and provide the tools needed to live a self-sufficient and stable life.
Ruling year
1996
Executive Director
Ms. Marguerite Bachand
Main address
318 Harrison St. Ste. 302
Oakland, CA 94607 USA
EIN
94-3176007
Homeless shelters
Homeless services
Population served
Families
Economically disadvantaged people
Homeless people
Veterans
NTEE code
Temporary Shelter For the Homeless (L41)
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
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
While veteran homelessness is declining nationally, Alameda County is one of the major areas where rising housing costs continue to make homelessness, especially among veterans, a major challenge. Local data estimates that more than 500 veterans in our county are homeless. In our programs, we serve those veterans who struggle with the most barriers to housing and stability. Among the people in our veteran programs: • 86% report living with a long-term disability (often with multiple health conditions, including physical and mental health challenges and substance use). • 13% enter our programs without any sources of income. • 35% are older than 60.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Veterans' housing and shelter
To provide transitional and permanent housing in a safe environment for homeless veterans and families,.
Street Outreach
We conduct street outreach to between 60 and 125 people who are homeless each day in Oakland and Alameda, CA.
Supportive services for formerly homeless families
Resident services and/or case management to help homeless families retain their housing.
Pop-up emergency shelter for unhoused people in Oakland.
We partner with the City of Oakland on its "community cabins" program. This program offers up to six months of shelter and housing navigation services to people who are coming from designated Oakland encampments.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
Our programs help veterans address and overcome these barriers to housing by providing stable shelter and transitional housing, supportive services, and a strong peer community – all helping the veteran leave homelessness behind for good.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Operation Dignity provides shelter, housing, and services to help veterans and their families escape the crisis of homelessness and regain stability. We operate 15 shelter beds and 91 transitional housing beds for veterans at three properties in Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley. In 2018, we served 215 homeless veterans, providing them with a safe place to stay, healthy food, and case management to help them escape homelessness and enter permanent housing.
We use evidence-based practices to provide exemplary services to the veterans in our programs. These include Housing First, which asserts that homeless individuals have the best housing stability when they enter housing as soon as possible, with supportive services to help them remain housed; Harm Reduction, which works to help people struggling with addiction reduce their substance use and refocus on their goals; and Trauma-Informed Care, which helps people who have experienced trauma (including many veterans) heal and move forward.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our housing sites provide homeless veterans with a safe, private, dignified environment in which to live and engage in services.
We operate three sites: Ashby House in Berkeley, which offers 7 transitional housing beds for single male veterans; Dignity Commons in Alameda, which offers 54 transitional housing beds for both male and female veterans and their children; and House of Dignity in Oakland, which offers 30 units of transitional housing and 15 of emergency shelter, both for single male veterans. Veterans can stay in shelter for 6 months and in transitional housing for 24 months.
All sites offer private bedrooms; on-site case managers and service offices; accessible units for people with disabilities; shared kitchens and common areas; on-site parking; a clothing closet of suits, shirts, and other needed items; access to free rides in our agency van; and either three hot meals daily (House of Dignity) or access to an on-site pantry and local food programs to help veterans secure their own affordable food (Dignity Commons and Ashby House).
From the first day homeless veterans walk into our programs, we are dedicated to helping them secure permanent housing. Our eight full-time case managers provide comprehensive on-site services to all residents, based on their individual needs and goals.
Each veteran works with their case manager to complete an individualized service plan (ISP) that identifies the veteran’s housing goals, such as securing a voucher, reuniting with family, or finding a board and care home. The case manager then works with the veteran to create achievable, measurable steps to address potential barriers to that housing and work toward their goal.
Every veteran works with their case manager to create a totally personalized and dynamic plan that derives from their needs and goals. For example, one veteran may seek to access disability benefits and find affordable in-home care, while another may wish to look for work and address a substance use issue. Our case managers work with veterans where they are and help them get to where they want to go.
To support the veteran and help them keep up their progress on their ISP, the case manager meets with the veteran each week to check in on their goals, troubleshoot any issues, and update the plan as the veteran meets goals and sets new ones. Case managers’ offices are on-site where veterans live, so they have opportunities to engage with veterans throughout the week, build a strong rapport, and be available if veterans have questions or concerns.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our strong outcomes show our success in helping homeless veterans regain housing and self-sufficiency: in FY19, 78% of veterans in our transitional housing exited to permanent housing (well over the VA’s goal of 65% for similar programs), and 88% left with a secure source of income to help them pay for housing.
Our commitment to secure permanent housing for veterans has not changed with COVID-19, but we have adjusted our practices to keep veterans and staff safe. E.g., we have suspended in-person groups and meetings; educated the veterans on COVID prevention and staying healthy; and distributed personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies. We are working closely with Alameda County Public Health and the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley to stay abreast of best practices in disease prevention, and have a written plan for COVID response that we have used to train and prepare all staff.
Even as our community continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, we are more dedicated than ever to keeping homeless veterans safe, healthy, and on track to regain 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 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
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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 ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2021 info
0.41
Months of cash in 2021 info
0.8
Fringe rate in 2021 info
22%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
OPERATION DIGNITY INC
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
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: Jan 01 - Dec 31
This snapshot of OPERATION DIGNITY INC’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 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | -$1,094 | $249 | $252,987 | $133,326 | $1,334,921 |
| As % of expenses | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.7% | 1.9% | 18.5% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$182,849 | -$186,209 | $66,923 | -$65,582 | $1,145,762 |
| As % of expenses | -5.9% | -4.5% | 1.2% | -0.9% | 15.5% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $3,005,002 | $3,901,014 | $5,573,905 | $7,102,537 | $8,555,959 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 22.4% | 29.8% | 42.9% | 27.4% | 20.5% |
| Program services revenue | 19.7% | 19.8% | 14.7% | 6.1% | 5.5% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 68.3% | 69.3% | 76.7% | 82.5% | 84.1% |
| All other grants and contributions | 11.7% | 10.7% | 8.5% | 11.4% | 10.3% |
| Other revenue | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $2,936,628 | $3,931,865 | $5,358,786 | $6,908,461 | $7,198,596 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 16.6% | 33.9% | 36.3% | 28.9% | 4.2% |
| Personnel | 59.2% | 55.0% | 60.9% | 57.4% | 57.5% |
| Professional fees | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Occupancy | 7.0% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 3.8% | 3.7% |
| Interest | 4.2% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 29.6% | 36.8% | 31.7% | 37.0% | 37.0% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $3,118,383 | $4,118,323 | $5,544,850 | $7,107,369 | $7,387,755 |
| One month of savings | $244,719 | $327,655 | $446,566 | $575,705 | $599,883 |
| Debt principal payment | $3,811 | $3,922 | $4,141 | $0 | $650,265 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $3,366,913 | $4,449,900 | $5,995,557 | $7,683,074 | $8,637,903 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Months of cash and investments | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | -12.8 | -10.2 | -7.3 | -5.8 | -3.6 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $268,839 | $249,711 | $259,624 | $327,494 | $476,905 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $471,979 | $559,565 | $1,213,373 | $1,713,707 | $2,453,988 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $5,342,696 | $5,443,445 | $5,512,054 | $5,512,054 | $5,625,661 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 55.1% | 57.3% | 60.0% | 63.6% | 65.5% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 194.1% | 202.6% | 186.5% | 178.8% | 142.1% |
| Unrestricted net assets | -$3,141,089 | -$3,327,298 | -$3,260,375 | -$3,325,957 | -$2,180,195 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $96,468 | $65,368 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $96,468 | $65,368 | $27,500 | $88,250 | $80,000 |
| Total net assets | -$3,044,621 | -$3,261,930 | -$3,232,875 | -$3,237,707 | -$2,100,195 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Executive Director
Ms. Marguerite Bachand
Marguerite is a non-profit executive with over 20 years of experience creating new programs and leading organizations through periods of change and growth. She developed a program for economically disadvantaged students at the University of California Office of the President that she implemented at multiple campuses, and has more recently worked in global development for an organization that removes land mines and works with farmers on sustainable farming practices in Afghanistan and Vietnam. She has dedicated her career to promoting equity and empowerment by working to broaden access to education, healthy environments, and economic opportunity for all individuals. Marguerite joined Operation Dignity in January 2017.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
OPERATION DIGNITY INC
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
OPERATION DIGNITY INC
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
OPERATION DIGNITY INC
Board of directorsas of 06/08/2023
Board of directors data
Dan Lopez
James de los Reyes
Morgan Clyde
Dale Adams
Cathy Boer
Sylvia Soublet
Nick Friend
Gretel Tortolani
Saleemah Jones
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? Yes
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
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/06/2020GuideStar 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 analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- 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 disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- 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 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.
Contractors
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