Vietnamese American Initiative for Development Inc.

General Information 42 Charles Street, Suite E Dorchester, MA 02122 1442 (617) 822-3717 Website

http://www.vietaid.org Organization Contact

Jeff Katz [email protected]

Year of Incorporation

1994

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Statements & Search Criteria Mission Statement

VietAid's mission is to build a strong Vietnamese-American community and a diverse and vibrant Fields Corner neighborhood. Since its founding in 1994, VietAid has worked to promote renewal of the Dorchester/Fields Corner communities through stronger civic engagement, development of affordable housing and commercial space, providing small business technical assistance and microenterprise, and offering high quality child care and youth programs to serve at risk youth from all segments of the community. Background Statement

Founded in 1994, VietAid is the first community development corporation established and operated by Vietnamese refugees and immigrants in the U.S. Located in the Fields Corner neighborhood (one of the largest Vietnamese concentrations in the East Coast),VietAid's mission is to build a strong Vietnamese American community in Boston and a diverse and vibrant Fields Corner neighborhood. For more than 20 years, VietAid has partnered with other community organizations, local businesses, and long-time residents to improve the lives of thousands of Vietnamese immigrants and refugees; increase the participation of Vietnamese residents in civic life; revitalize the once blighted Fields Corner residential area; and contribute to the economic vitality of the neighborhood. Our current programs and past accomplishments include: -Built a $5.1 million Vietnamese-American Community Center that houses bilingual and bi-cultural preschool, after-school day care, youth, and senior programs that serve over 5,000 children, youth, parents and elders annually. -Provided business counseling to over 500 business owners and helped create and strengthen more than 150 businesses through three key business development initiatives, Win-Win Cleaning, Safe Nail Salons, and Safe Hardwood Floor Project. -Developed a portfolio of 130 affordable rental and home ownership housing units; provided counseling to over 1,000 families and helped over 300 families purchase their first homes and/or preserve their homes. -Improved neighborhood by transforming five former drug houses and abandoned lots into three affordable housing projects, a community garden, and a community center. -Fostered youth and grassroots leadership development by engaging hundreds of youth and community members in various community events, projects, and initiatives.

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Impact Statement

ACCOMPLISHMENTS -Initiated the building of 85 more affordable housing units to complement the existing housing stock in its portfolio, serving elderly and disadvantaged residents. -Sustained a first-time home owners program to guide and assist citizens to own their own homes in the community. -Expanded the After School Program to serve an additional 25 "at risk" youth from economically disadvantaged families, most of which with low English language proficiency. -Helped 20 nail salons in Boston to comply with new regulations concerning use of toxins and convert to "green" business. -Continued to provide meeting high quality space at The Vietnamese-American Community Center to diverse groups like Vovinam Martial Arts, Boy Scouts, Mothers Against Violence, Fields Corner Main Street and various community groups. -Held community political forums to educate citizens about upcoming elections and expose them to candidates and their proposals affecting the community. GOALS: - Redevelop 5 underutilized lots in the community into additional affordable housing units and 6000 sf of retail spaces in Four Corners. -Transform local nail salons into "green businesses" with a coordinated marketing plan using, social networking and other media. -Educate at least 500 new citizens on voter registration requirements. -Continue efforts to make the VietAID Center a central part of social and cultural community life in Dorchester/Fields Corner. -Stabilize social services referral programs for our partner, Vietnamese American Civic Association. -Connect our fully licensed Pre School program to the Boston Public Schools under Mayor Walsh's plans for universal PreK programs. -Expand learning opportunities and provide pre-college counseling for high school students enrolled in the after school programs.

Needs Statement

Vietaid needs: 1) Financial support for expanded youth and family services, after school programming, summer camps, and year-round preschool. ($200,000) 2) Funds for professional development available in a range of fields for various program directors. ($80,000) 3) Creation of a land bank program to allow for quickly acquiring underuntilized lands for redevelopment as they become available on the market.($500,000) 4) Engagement of a website developer and social networking technician to support programs of VietAID, including use of computers for the "green business network" and the microenterprise development endeavors. ($150,000)

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CEO/Executive Director Statement

Despite a difficult economy, VietAID has been able, not only to weather the storm of declining contributions, but also to expand our services. During this past fiscal year, VietAID continued helping local small businesses, provided affordable housing for low-income families, managed AuCo Pre School and created more youth programs than ever, including After School Program and New Opportunities for At Risk Youth. We also began to tell our story to a wider audience. We further developed VATV (VietAID TV) on Boston Neighborhood Network to publicize VietAid programs, as well as, provide useful information relevant to the Vietnamese community. We renamed our largest housing development to date, 1460 House, on Dorchester Avenue to "Lc Vit" to reflect what Fields Corner has meant to many people over the past 20 years. In Vietnamese "Lc" means joy, peace, prosperity, and in short, happiness. Lc Vit hopefully will become a happy home built by VietAid for residents and businesses of Fields Corner for decades to come. It is our hope that Vietaid will continue to help transform into a diverse cultural and business destination. We also seized opportunities to collaborate with various community organizations. We were very pleased that we were able to provide office and program spaces to the Vietnamese American Civic Association (VACA). Together under one roof VietAID and VACA can support each other and provide more and better services to our community. VietAID continues to be an integral part of the total community which provides services to all segments of the community without regard to race, income, gender, or ethnicity. A testament to the effectiveness of VietAID was recognition by the new Mayor who appointed VietAID's director to Boston's economic advisory committee. Board Chair Statement

I enjoy helping hard working people who are trying to improve themselves. One of the major objectives of VietAID is helping our diverse community navigate the regulatory maze that we call America. Government regulations have not made it easy for immigrants to succeed in America. VietAID helps the community navigate through this maze that is so difficult and overwhelming for many. Having been born in Dorchester, baptized at St Gregory's, studied at BC High, and worked for over 20 years at Carney Hospital, I have a real affinity for organizations that strive to make Dorchester a better place for all. VietAID embodies these goals. Its mission of helping the Vietnamese rebuild their lives and also to revitalize Fields Corner neighborhood resonates with me. VietAID’s Family & Youth Programs are addressing real needs of the community as seen by its diverse residents. VietAID’s housing development is helping Dorchester residents, non-Vietnamese and Vietnamese alike, to stay in Dorchester in decent and energy efficient buildings. VietAID has transformed abandoned lots and foreclosed properties into housing for its' community members. Dorchester is returning to its root as a welcoming place for immigrants. Decent housing and home ownership are major components of the American Dream. VietAID has contributed much to this achievement.

Service Categories Economic Development Youth Centers and Clubs (includes Boys/Girls Clubs)- Multipurpose Family Services (Adolescent Parents)

Geographic Areas Served VietAID is located in central Dorchester serving the neighborhoods and community surrounding the Fields Corner T-Station. Our main goal has been to develop improvements in the Dorchester (02122

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zip) community where we are located, and to also serve the larger disadvantaged Vietnamese community throughout the State of Massachusetts whenever possible. Please review online profile for full list of selected areas served.

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Programs Early Education Programs Description

Au-Co Preschool provides quality bilingual early childhood education for children age 15 months to 5 years old. Family Childcare provides a micro-entrepreneurial approach for licensed childcare providers to care for newborn and children up to 5 years old.

Budget

$450,000.00

Category

Education, General/Other Early Childhood Education

Population Served

Children and Youth (0 - 19 years), Families,

Program Short Term Success

Short-term success of Viet-AID's Early Education Programs includes being physically, socially, linguistically, and emotionally developed for the next stage of development. It also includes the ability to engage in teamwork and cooperate with classmates in various classroom projects.

Program Long term Success

The long-term success of the program includes parental involvement in their children education and to prepare them to compete at every level.

Program Success Monitored By

Success for Early Education Programs is monitored by "Ages & Stages Questionnaire" at initial meeting and every 3 months for progress. In addition, the school will use the Creative Curriculum Assessment System to monitor children's progress at every 6 months. A conference with parents will be set up afterward to update parents with the evaluation.

Examples of Program Success

Children move to the next step of development.

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Youth Programs Description

Summer Camp for Youth, and After School Program (VSPY), help elementary and middle school students from Dorchester to develop academic, social and cultural competencies necessary to succeed in school and to become responsible members of our community. VietAID Leadership Alliance (VALA), provides volunteer, leadership, and academic assistance to high school youth and partners with VSPY to implement college readiness programming for 7th-12th grade students.

Budget

$200,000.00

Category

Education, General/Other Afterschool Enrichment

Population Served

K-12 (5-19 years), At-Risk Populations, Families

Program Short Term Success

Program short-term success means increasing students’ interest in learning,academic progress, and literacy skills, building students’ identification with their own culture and sense of civic engagement, improving students’ positive physical health, social and emotional well-being, and strengthening ability of families and parents to provide stable, supportive environment and involvement in the education of their children.

Program Long term Success

Long-term success of Viet-AID's youth programs means being able to close the inter generational and cultural gap between immigrant parents and their children often significantly associated with youth violence and poor academic performance.

Program Success Monitored By

Program success is monitored by Program Outcome Chart as a foundation for our evaluation plan. Key outcome measures include academic achievement, interest and commitment to learning, strong identification with culture and civic engagement, physical, social and emotional health, parent ability to provide stable and supportive environment as well as to become involved in children education, and capacity of the Boston public schools to serve immigrant children.

Examples of Program Success

Summer Camp for Youth and After School Program--End of the school year evaluation indicated that over 97% of students and 100% of parents from the After School Program reported that the academic program helped students finish homework and improve literacy. Test scores also showed an improvement in students’ reading ability that align to ELL learning standards, such that 66% of students improved their overall literacy score. VALA- Each senior has successfully graduated from high school with a 100% success rate of being accepted to college.

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Afforadble Housing Development Description

VietAid has pursued a transit-oriented neighborhood revitalization strategy that has built 120 affordable rental housing units, rehabilitated 20 home ownership units, six business condos, 30,000 sf of office space for non profits, and developed an anchor community center. We have mobilized more than $50 million in just direct capital investment into Fields Corner

Budget

$100,000.00

Category

Housing, General/Other Affordable Housing

Population Served

Families, Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent, Immigrant, Newcomers, Refugees

Program Short Term Success

Decent housing for more than 100 families.

Program Long term Success

Stabilize Fields Corner

Program Success Monitored By

Rent roll

Examples of Program Success

The VietAID Community Center has been the catalyst for Fields Corner revitalization. The are is no long drug and crime infested. More than 200 Vietnamese owned businesses are operating in the neighborhood. Restaurants are open until late at night

Safe Nail Salon Description

All chemicals in nail salon products are dangerous to the public's health. VietAid has partnered with the Boston Public Health Commission and other organizations to promote safer practices in handling and storing nail products. VietAid outreaches to over 500 nail salons around the Greater Boston areas.

Budget

$150,000.00

Category

Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, General/Other Ear, Nose & Throat Diseases

Population Served

Asian, Pacific Islander Heritage, Females, Immigrant, Newcomers, Refugees

Program Short Term Success

In 2012, more than 100 nail salons are certified

Program Long term Success

City of Boston issued new regulations to standardize safety rules that are supported by the nail salon owners. VietAID are working with nail salons to develop GREEN salons.

Program Success Monitored By

Boston Public Health Commission

Examples of Program Success

Safe Nail Salon video clips were produced in both Vietnamese and English.

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Housing Couseling Description

Provide bilingual counseling to home owners facing foreclosure. VietAid focuses on helping Asian Americans and other immigrants. We work closely with their banks and mortgage companies to modify or refinance the mortgage so they can keep their home. Provide fist time home owner workshops in Vietnamese for prospective buyer. Provide rental counseling for low income immigrants. Work with utility companies to make home more energy efficient.

Budget

$80,000.00

Category

Housing, General/Other Housing Counseling

Population Served

Asian, Pacific Islander Heritage, Immigrant, Newcomers, Refugees, Families

Program Short Term Success

Assist more than 50 families to keep their home in 2011

Program Long term Success

More than 100 Vietnamese graduate have bough houses with financial incentives from various sources.

Program Success Monitored By

Funders

Examples of Program Success

More than 100 families have installed energy efficient lights and fixtures in their home.

Program Comments CEO Comments

Due to leadership transitions, Board member Van Paul Le assumed the position of interim executive director in January, 2015 while a national search is conducted to recruit a permanent executive director. this search may took many months and culminated in the hiring of Hue T. Pham to the role in September, 2015.

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Management CEO/Executive Director Executive Director

Mr. Jeff Katz

Term Start

July 2016

Email

[email protected]

Experience

Former CEOs Name

Term

Mr. Long Nguyen

Apr 1994 - June 2004

Mr. Nam Pham

Jan 2010 - Jan 2015

Senior Staff Ms. Hoa-Mai Nguyen Title

Director of Family Programs

Experience/Biography

Staff Information Full Time Staff

15

Part Time Staff

12

Volunteers

17

Contractors

3

Staff Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black

1

Asian American/Pacific Islander

24

Caucasian

2

Hispanic/Latino

0

Native American/American Indian

0

Other

0

Staff Demographics - Gender Male

6

Female

18

10

Unspecified

0

Formal Evaluations CEO Formal Evaluation

Yes

CEO/Executive Formal Evaluation Frequency

Semi-Annually

Senior Management Formal Evaluation

Yes

Senior Management Formal Evaluation Frequency

Semi-Annually

NonManagement Formal Evaluation

Yes

Non Management Formal Evaluation Frequency

Annually

Plans & Policies Organization has a Fundraising Plan?

Yes

Organization has a Strategic Plan?

Under Development

Years Strategic Plan Considers

5

Date Strategic Plan Adopted

Jan 2013

Does your organization have a Business Continuity No of Operations Plan? Management Succession Plan?

Under Development

Organization Policy and Procedures

Yes

Nondiscrimination Policy

Yes

Whistleblower Policy

Yes

Document Destruction Policy

No

Directors and Officers Insurance Policy

Yes

Is your organization licensed by the Government?

No

Registration

Yes

Permit?

Yes

Collaborations VietAID collaborates with various Dorchester and Greater Boston organizations. We partner with DotHouse Health and Kit Clark Senior Service Center to explore opportunities for senior housing developments. We have become the fiscal sponsor for the Vietnamese American Civic Association. We work closely with Fields Corner Main Street and are one the three CDCs of the Community Business Network to assist Boston's small businesses. We provide meeting and program spaces for numerous community groups such as Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, The Vietnamese Girls and Boy Scouts, Asian-American Resource Workshop, Closer to Home. Our VietAID Center serves as a center for cultural and educational activities in the community. Currently, we are working closely with the Boston Public Health Commission to assist nail salon

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owners in becoming "green" businesses. Boston Youth Family Services is a partner for our Summer Camp that serves 100 elementary and middle school students and is expanding due to increasing demand to aid at risk youth.

Awards Awards Award/Recognition

Organization

Year

SILVER

LEED Developer

2002

Affordable Housing Design Award Boston Federal Home Loan Bank

2011

First Place - Signed up most residents for energy efficiency program

Renew Boston

2012

Community Award

Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA)

2014

Community Service Award

Boston Police

2014

Community Hero Award

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 2014 Asian American Commission

External Assessments and Accreditations Assessment/Accreditation

Year

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - 3 Year Accreditation

0

Affiliations Affiliation

Year

Massachusetts Nonprofit Network

0

Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC)

0

CDC - State certified Community Development Corporation

0

Comments CEO Comments

It is hard to recruit experienced bilingual & bi-cultural staff when the compensation is not competitive. Therefore, we rely on volunteers more than ever. We are fortunate enough to work with AmeriCorps members from various branches. We can use more of them. We rely very heavily on the excellent senior staff afforded to us by our partnership with the Urban League's Golden Age program for senior workers.

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Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair

Ms Kim Thai Esq

Company Affiliation

City of Boston ISD

Term

July 2014 to Jan 2017

Email

[email protected]

Board CoChair Term

0 to Jan 0

Board Members Name

Affiliation

Status

Ms. Danielle Goatley

Y2Y Harvard Square

Voting

Mr. Kerry McGowan

Harvard University

Voting

Mr. Julien Pham

attorney

Voting

Ms. Kim T. Thai

City of Boston ISD

Voting

Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black

0

Asian American/Pacific Islander

2

Caucasian

2

Hispanic/Latino

0

Native American/American Indian

0

Other

00

Board Demographics - Gender Male

2

Female

2

Unspecified

0

Board Information Written Board Selection Criteria?

No

Written Conflict of Interest Policy?

Yes

Percentage Making Monetary Contributions

100%

Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions

100%

Constituency Includes Client Representation

Yes

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Standing Committees Audit Executive Strategic Planning / Strategic Direction

Comments CEO Comments

VietAID always seeks board members with diverse backgrounds and life experience. VietAID serves the total community, not just Vietnamese. The majority of our housing residents are not Vietnamese. 30% of children who use our youth services are Cape Verdean, Haitian, and African American. Out staff is also diverse and fluent in a variety of languages spoken by our constituents from Vietnamese to Spanish, Chinese, French, and English.

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Financials Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Start

Jan 01, 2016

Fiscal Year End

Dec 31, 2016

Projected Revenue

$1,763,485.00

Projected Expenses

$1,803,593.00

Endowment?

No

Spending Policy

Income Only

Credit Line?

Yes

Reserve Fund?

No

Months Reserve Fund Covers

0

Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year Total Revenue Total Expenses Revenue Sources Fiscal Year Foundation and Corporation Contributions Government Contributions Federal State Local Unspecified Individual Contributions Indirect Public Support Earned Revenue Investment Income, Net of Losses Membership Dues Special Events Revenue In-Kind Other

2015 $2,032,341 $1,780,042

2014 $1,382,072 $1,795,310

2013 $1,957,554 $1,948,592

2015 --

2014 --

2013 --

$835,724 ---$835,724 $348,313 $24,303 $768,760 $1,208 -$54,033 ---

$742,215 ---$742,215 $289,416 $41,939 $255,535 $5,530 -$47,437 ---

$725,322 ---$725,322 $452,008 $41,934 $621,578 $4,833 -$77,051 -$34,828

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Expense Allocation Fiscal Year Program Expense Administration Expense Fundraising Expense Payments to Affiliates Total Revenue/Total Expenses Program Expense/Total Expenses Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year Total Assets Current Assets Long-Term Liabilities Current Liabilities Total Net Assets Short Term Solvency Fiscal Year Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets Top Funding Sources Fiscal Year Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount

2015 $1,548,362 $198,172 $33,508 -1.14 87% 3%

2014 $1,498,576 $238,838 $57,896 -0.77 83% 5%

2013 $1,563,361 $328,655 $56,576 -1.00 80% 4%

2015 $5,258,607 $2,882,008 $1,190,127 $314,919 $3,753,561

2014 $4,725,909 $1,804,262 $909,626 $315,021 $3,501,262

2013 $4,648,001 $934,427 $427,779 $305,722 $3,914,500

2015 9.15

2014 5.73

2013 3.06

2015 23%

2014 19%

2013 9%

2015 ---

2014 ---

2013 ---

--

--

--

Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign?

Yes

Campaign Purpose

Our Capital Campaign is currently in its infancy and planning stages. We will be utilizing the excellent opportunities afforded to donors via the CITC credit program to raise funds. These funds will be used for large-scale improvement projects such as plumbing renovations for the preschool and HVAC upgrades for the Community Center. Goal

$125000.00

Dates

Apr 2016 to Oct 2017

Amount Raised To Date

as of July 0

Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years?

Yes

Comments CEO Comments

VietAid's financial health has significantly improved. Our audited financial statements reflect the increase incontributions and financial support we have received as our reputation for sound

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management and wothwhile programs has spread. Our books are balanced and our annual income sources has expanded to include out listing as a United Way agency. We have operated our facility more efficiently and cut other expenses. Through a volunteer grantwriter, we have increased our outreach to a number of potential donors and are building more productive relationships with them. Foundation Staff Comments

Financial summary data in the charts and graphs above is per the organization's IRS Form 990s. Contributions from foundations and corporations are listed under individuals when the breakout was not available. For the F15, FY14 and FY13 audits, the independent auditors issued a qualification to their opinion regarding the effects of not consolidating the two affiliated legally-separate for-profit entities which the Agency has sponsored in furtherance of its affordable housing charitable mission. Please review the Auditors opinion for further information.

Created 01.22.2017.

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