Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Majority Independent Board Members - 85% independent members
10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 12 independent members
10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None
10 out of 10 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Tax Form Disclosures and Policies
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed
3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes
3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website Disclosures
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website as stated on Form 990 - Missing
0 out of 3 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Metrics
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 0.24%
15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 54.12%
5 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
Additional Information
Total Revenue and Expenses - Data Available
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Salary of Key Persons - No Data Available
No Data Available
Salary of Key Persons data is currently unavailable for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last 3 years. In some cases, there may be an electronically-filed 990 on file but the nonprofit may have not included the information and therefore we cannot post it.
IRS Published Data (Business Master File) - Data Available
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources (IRS Forms 990) - Data Available
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage accountability and finance data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Project 440 Inc.) or EIN (205455597) in the 'Search Term' field.
Impact & Measurement
Score
100
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
$127 increases income for a mentee high school graduate who would have otherwise dropped out of high school by $116,187
Program Context
This program provides mentoring for at least one year to youth enrolled in high school in the United States.
Data Time Period
9/1/2022 to 8/31/2023
Benchmark for Scoring
Impact scores of youth mentoring programs are based on estimated future income generated for high school graduates that would not have otherwise graduated, relative to cost. Programs receive an Impact score of 100 if they increase income for a graduate by more than $1.50 for every $1 spent and a score of 80 if income increases by more than $0.85 for every $1 spent. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 65. This program increases income for a youth mentee graduate by more than $1.50 for every $1 spent.
Methodology
This impact score was determined through the Youth Mentoring methodology which is fully detailed in the Charity Navigator Guide to Ratings. Analysis conducted in 2024 by Charity Navigator using data submitted by the nonprofit, theory and evidence from scientific research studies, and public datasets.
Data Source
The nonprofit submitted cost data and graduation rates.
Measurement
Unscored
0% of Impact & Measurement score
Culture & Community
Score
100
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Equity Strategies™ - Number of Data, Policies & Processes
100 out of 100 points
This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 14 Equity Practices.
The Equity Strategies™ checklist, developed by Equity in the Center™, consists of data, policies & processess that promote racial equity in operations and programs. The Equity Strategies™ were developed by Equity In The Center®, and collected in partnership with Candid.
Equity Data (7/7)
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.
Equity Policies & Processes (7/7)
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 measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
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.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission.
PROJECT 440 TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE TO USE THEIR INTEREST IN MUSIC TO FORGE NEW PATHWAYS FOR THEMSELVES AND IGNITE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Vision Statement
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's vision.
Project 440 is a wayfinding community for youth to ignite their creativity, envision their future, and discover the joy of service.
Strategic Goals
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Expand our creative youth development programs Doing Good, Instruments for Success, and the Youth Advocacy Council.
Goal Two: Increase professional development opportunities and training for Teaching Artists and provide additional mentorship and workforce development opportunities for the youth that we serve.
Goal Three: Increase staffing to support administrative operations and programmatic growth.
Leadership
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Investment in Leadership Development
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development.
Project 440 provides professional development and training opportunities for its staff and teaching artists. In January 2023, the organization supported our executive director's attendance at the annual Sphinx Connect conference in Detroit. Our Teaching Artists also had the opportunity to participate in workshops and panel discussions. Sphinx is the largest and longest-standing convening dedicated to diversity and inclusion in classical music.
External Focus on Mobilizing Mission
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborative Engagement
Thought Leadership
Social Promotion
Adaptability
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Adaptability Statement
30 out of 30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
After securing funding, we piloted Doing Good II in February 2022. The program grew out of feedback from Doing Good alumni who said they wanted to develop their entrepreneurial skills and initial community service endeavors to create sustainable service projects.
A six-month program, DGII featured a rigorous curriculum taught by a diverse roster of guest speakers who are leaders in their field. Topics included project management, assessing community need, trauma informed practice, evaluating impact, fundraising, and partnerships.
All students received a participation stipend and each group earned program funding of $1,500, this was an increase of the funding provided in Doing Good where each group receives $500.
Two of the projects were the Center City Chamber Orchestra (CCCO) which seeks to embody and support necessary societal change with innovative programming, performances, leadership, and artistic collaborations, and Generation Music which provides classical music education to underrepresented youth through workshops and lessons—solely taught by young artists.
CCCO produced three concerts in spring 2022 and have established a partnership with St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Philadelphia where they rehearse and have been named ensemble in residence. CCCO has also secured additional sponsorships to support their programs.
In July 2022, Generation Music partnered with Artcinia, a community-based organization and presented a series of weekly programs at a West Philadelphia church. They returned in the fall and presented eight weeks of afterschool programming.
In June 2022, The Philadelphia Citizen published an in-depth article about the Doing Good program titled “The Other Music Lessons.” Marquise Bradley, who is featured in the article, is the first Project 440 student to become a donor. He said of Doing Good, “I saw my donation as an opportunity to confirm that this is something I believe in. This is how we sustain the good that is in the world.”