Able Trust Board Meeting Materials - May 2025 by abletrust

Board of Directors, May 22, 2025

“READ THIS” AGENDA SUMMARY

FY25 Quarter 3 Financial Report Highlights

Proﬁt & Loss Sheet

 HSHT Futures in Focus (line 606.600): Final deliverable submi ed May 15; ﬁnal payment of $605,000 pending.

 ArtCIE Project (lines 606.900 and 782.000): Income and expenditures significantly reduced due to FDOE/VR’s decision not to contract with four subgrantees. No financial impact to The Able Trust, as these are pass-through funds. FDOE/VR is discon nuing the federal grant. TAT staff are finalizing deliverables and closing subgrantee contracts with VR.

Balance Sheet

 Bank Transi on: Migra on from The First to Capital City Bank to be completed by June 30, 2025. Both account balances currently appear on the balance sheet. The First accounts will be removed a er ﬁnal reconcilia on (accounts: 109.300, 109.003, 109.002, 109.004, 108.000, 109.000, 109.200).

 Assets & Endowments: Down slightly (1%) compared to Q3 last year.

 Unearned Revenue (line 321.000): Reﬂects remaining ArtCIE funds. Final reconcilia on and return of unused funds to FDOE/VR will occur at ﬁscal year-end.

FY26 Budget Highlights

 Lines 8 & 18: ArtCIE federal grant removed from revenue and expenses.

 Line 10: Includes $300,000 for Futures in Focus and $300,000 for HSHT internal opera ons—pending legisla ve and gubernatorial approval.

 Line 24: Increase reﬂects addi on of three new HSHT sites.

 Lines 25, 26, 29: Increases reﬂect Helios-funded project ac vi es.

 Line 32: Increase in Research Funds for expanded research on Pre-ETS, HSHT return on investment, and a study of student trajectory from HSHT to VR general services, postsecondary educa on and employment.

 Line 34: Decrease due to ending contract with NANOE.

 Line 35: Increase for expanding donor events from one to up to ten loca ons statewide.

 Line 36: Signiﬁcant decrease in HSHT Ambassadors funding due to reduced need for travel and discon nued plans for leadership training and student events that would supplant site services.

 Line 62: Savings from switching to nonproﬁt-speciﬁc insurance coverage.

 Line 83: Signiﬁcant increase in legal fees due to Pe engill endowment se lement.

FY 2026 – FY 2027 Oﬃcer Elec ons

 All current oﬃcers have agreed to serve a third and ﬁnal term:

o Chair: Laurie Sallarulo

o Vice Chair: Mavara Agrawal

o Treasurer: Doug Hilliard

o Secretary: Chip Byers

Legisla ve Funding Requests

 Recurring funds for HSHT ($1,018,000) and nonrecurring funds for HSHT opera ons ($300,000) are in both the Senate and House budgets.

 Nonrecurring funds for HSHT Opera ons ($300,000) are in the Senate budget. Our lobbyist is hopeful that these funds will be included in both budgets during the conferencing process.

Pe engill Endowment

 The estate is in probate, which may take up to six months. Ausley McMullen, a Tallahassee ﬁrm with estate law exper se, is handling the process on our behalf. No family objec ons have been raised. The estate is valued at $6.6 million. The Able Trust will receive a 1.5% annual management fee (approximately $100,000), with interest and earnings distributed to estate-designated chari es.

FY 25-26 Strategic Priori es and KPIs

 Strategic Priori es and KPIs, presented to the board in January 2025, remain unchanged. Staﬀ are aligning opera onal plans to meet the following goals:

o Expand youth programs to serve 5,000 students annually by FY 2027–2028.

o Diversify funding to raise $12 million over four years and strengthen organiza onal sustainability.

o Invest $260,000 in targeted VR support in FY 2026.

 Detailed KPIs are included in board materials.

HSHT/VR Pre-Employment Transi on Program Model

For over 30 years, The Able Trust has delivered high-quality programs with ﬁscal responsibility. The HSHT program has a 99% gradua on rate and a 54% postsecondary enrollment rate. A scalable HSHT/Pre-ETS model will include:

 Collabora on with VR and BEESS to clearly deﬁne responsibili es between LEAs and VR, ensuring HSHT/Pre-ETS supplements (not supplants) IDEA-mandated services.

 Iden ﬁca on of service gaps and overlaps between FAPE/IDEA and WIOA.

 A comprehensive delivery model featuring:

o Guideposts for Success-based curriculum

o Compliance with federal and state policies

o Deﬁned fees and budgets

o Clear repor ng roles for The Able Trust, VR, and local partners

o In-school delivery for accessibility and con nuity

o A revolving fund from The Able Trust endowment for local startup costs

o A formal agreement with FLDOE/VR detailing the service model.

BOARD Meeting Agenda – May 22, 2025, 10:00 AM – NOON, Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82857110471?pwd=GBYbimbJDR0NFpgTBbSru8zkohc2MK.1

Meeting Call-In Number: 1 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 828 5711 0471 Passcode: 320427

Directors are reminded that all Able Trust Board and Committee meeting are open and publicly noticed. Under Florida Sunshine Law, any meeting of 2 or more Able Trust Directors must be publicly noticed. Directors are prohibited from discussing Able Trust business outside of official meetings of the organization. Directors are reminded of conflict-of-interest provisions. In declaring a conflict, please refrain from voting or discussion and declare the following information: 1) Your name and position on the Board, 2) The nature of the conflict, and 3) Who will gain or lose as a result of the conflict.

II.

III. Call to Order (5 Minutes) Roll Call and Establishment of Quorum Approval of Agenda – Action

IV. Consent Agenda – Action (5 Minutes)

a. January and March 2025 Minutes

b. FY 24-25 Quarter 3 Profit & Loss Statement

c. FY 24-25 Quarter 3 Balance Sheet

V. Action Items (30 Minutes)

a. Pensacola Cares, Inc. – Action

b. Pettengill Endowment Update

c. FY 2025 – 2026 Budget – Action

a. Helios Grant

d. Officer Elections – Action

VI. Regular Business (45 Minutes)

a. President’s Report

1. Legislative Update

2. FY 2025 – 2026 Strategic Priorities and KPIs

3. FY 2024 – 2025 Program Reports

i. Programs

ii. Fundraising

iii. Communications & Research

b. VR Report

X. Public Comment (5 Minutes)

Next Meeting: September 11, 2025 – 10am to Noon

Adjourn

Pg. 1 – 6

Pg. 7 – 10

Pg. 11 – 12

Pg. 13

Pg. 14 – 20

Pg. 21- 23

Pg. 24

Laurie Sallarulo, Chair

Chip Byers, Secretary

Laurie Sallarulo

Allison Chase and Steve Hogan, Esq.

Doug Hilliard, Treasurer

Laurie Sallarulo

Allison Chase

Pg. 25 - 26

Pg. 27 - 28

Joey D’Souza, SVP

Donna Wright, VP

Tracey Lowe, VP

Kelly Rogers, VR Director

Laurie Sallarulo, Chair

Please Note: Agenda subject to revisions and additions per the discretion of the Chair of the Board of Directors. Notification will be sent of any such revisions or changes. Members of the Public: Please notify Arnaldo Ramos at Arnaldo@AbleTrust.org if you wish to make public comment on particular agenda items no later than 1-hour prior to beginning of the meeting.

FloridaEndowmentFoundationforVocationalRehabilitation,dbaTheAbleTrust DRAFT-MeetingMinutes

BoardofDirectorsMeeting–January30,2025,10:00a.m.to12:00p.m.

VirtualMeeting

MembersinAttendance

James“Chip”Byers,LoriFahey,StephanieWesterman,Dr.MavaraAgrawal, KellyRogers,AlexisDoyle

MembersAbsent LaurieSallarulo,ToddJennings,DougHilliard

StaffinAttendance

OthersinAttendance

AllisonChase,President;ArnaldoRamos,OfficeAdministratorandExecutive AssistanttothePresident;DonnaWright,VicePresidentofDevelopment& Marketing;JosephD’Souza,Sr.VicePresident;TraceyLow,VicePresidentof StrategicCommunications;JustinAdams,CommunicationsManager;Coleen Agner,StateDirectorofHSHT; LeanneRexford,DirectorofPartnerRelations

Item Action/Discussion

I. CalltoOrder PresidentChasecalledthemeetingtoorderat10:06a.m.

II. RollCalland Establishmentof Quorum

III. ApprovalofAgenda–Action

IV. ApprovalofConsent Agenda–Action

a. Acceptanceof OctoberMeeting Minutes

b. FY24-25Quarter1 BalanceSheet

c. FY24-25Quarter1 Profit&Loss Statement

d. FY24-25Family EndowmentFunds Approval

ChipByers,BoardSecretarycompletedrollcallandaquorumwasestablishedat 10:08a.m.

ArequesttoapproveandmakeachangetotheagendamadebyPresident ChasetoaddDirectorKellyRogersprovidesaVocationalRehabilitation update.

MotiontoapprovethechangeandagendawasmadefirstbyDirector AlexisDoyleandsecondbySecretaryJamesChipByers.Motioncarried.

Motiontoapprovetheagendaandconsentagenda,firstbyDirectorAlexis DoyleandsecondbyDirectorKellyRogers.

GregB.Burchell,MSSBInvestmentAdvisor,providedanoverviewofthe fourthquarterfinancialswiththeinvestedendowmentfundsandmarket analysisfortheaccounts.

V. ActionItems

a. FY23-24Audit–AllisonHarrell, ThomasHowell Ferguson

b. ElectNominating Committee

LeighJenkinsfromThomasHowellFergusonprovidedareviewofthe completedauditandfinancialstatementsfortheboardmembers. Ms. Jenkinsdetailedsomeofthekeypointsoftheauditandstatedthatthere werenofindingsuponcompletionoftheaudit,andthatitwasaclean review.

PresidentChasethenaskedforamotiontoaccept theauditreport.Director StephanieWestermanmadethemotiontoaccepttheauditandwas secondedbyDirectorJamesChipByers.Themotioncarried.

PresidentChasethenproceededtoexplainthatthenominatingcommittee wasupforelectionattheendofthisyear,thenomineesare:

 AlexisDoyle

 ToddJennings

 StephanieWesterman

Amotiontoapprovethenomineeselectedforthenominatingcommittee wasmadebyDirectorAlexisDoyleandsecondedbyDirectorLoriFahey. Motioncarried.

VI. VRUpdate

DirectorKellyRogersoftheDepartmentofVocationalRehabilitation (“DVR”)sharedupdatesonthefollowing:

 41.4%ofpeoplewho exitedtheprogramweresuccessfully competitivelyemployedwithinthelastfiscalyear.

 ImplementingtheSpeedtoServiceProject,atopprioritytoensure servicesareprovidedtimely.Between2021and2024,theaverage timebetweenwhenapersonappliesforVRservices,towhenthey receivetheirfistservicehasreducedbyatotalof114daysor55%.

 ArtCIEGrantwasevaluated,andVRhasdeterminedtoterminate thatgrant.However,theservicesrenderedthroughthegrantwillnot besuspendedthoughgeneralVRfunds.

VII. RegularBusiness

a. PresidentsReport

1. February1:1 Budgetand Officer Recruitment Meetings

2. Recap HSHT/PreETS Conversations andNext Steps

3. March19 MajorGifts Event

PresidentChasesharedwiththeboardthatherexecutiveassistant,Arnaldo Ramos,wouldbecontactingtheboardmembersindividuallytoschedule1 on1callstoreviewthebudgetanddiscussofficerrecruitment.

4. March20 BODMeeting

5. Strategic Planning Workshop Discussion

PresidentChasesharedanupdateregardingDVRandTheAbleTrust’s collaborationregardingtransitioningsomeoftheexistingHighSchoolHigh Techprogramsthatareinsomeoftheschooldistrictsacrossthestateinto andPre-ETSprograms.DVRisinterestedinstrengtheningtheir relationshipwithschooldistrictsandcandosobytransitioningovertoPreETS.

PresidentChaseandDonnaWright,VPofMarketingandDevelopment, provideddetailsregardingtheMarch19th MajorGiftsevent,“Crossingthe Stage”.Providingdetailslikehoteldetails,whattimetheeventstarts,and location.DonnaalsosharedinformationontheHSHTAmbassadorsthat willbeinattendancetospeakandparticipatethateveningasa firsthand experiencetotheattendeesofthehardworkingstudentsandimpactHSHT hasacrossthestate.

PresidentChasethenproceededtodiscusstheitineraryforthefollowing day,March20th fortheboardmeetingaswellasstaffaccompanied legislativemeetingsatthecapitol.

PresidentChasepresentedTheAbleTrust’sstrategicprioritiesand explainedthattheorganizationevaluatesandupdatestheprioritiesyearly.

1. Expandyouthprograms andserve5,000studentsannuallybyfiscal year2027-2028.Seekeyperformanceindicatorsbelow:

 Serve1,400students  Wearecurrentlyservingover 1,600studentsandanticipatebeingservingaround2,000 studentsbyyearsend.

 Fund46HSHTPrograms  Wearesuccessfully funding all46programs.

 100%ofFuture’sinFocusstudentstobereferredtoDVR  Allparticipatingstudentshavebeenreferred.

 Developandimplementformalsystemofprogram evaluation  Designphasehasbeencompletedandare enteringthetestingphaseoftheprogram evaluation.

 Createaresearchplanforyouthprograms  Currentlyin thestudydesignphasetovalidateandamplifybasisfor investmentinyouthprograms.

NextBoardMeeting

2. Secureamorediversifiedfundingbasetoensureorganizational stabilityandachieveexponentialimpact.Raise$12,000,000infour years.Seekeyperformanceindicatorsbelow:

 Raise$625,000  Currentlyfundraisedatotalof $425,000ofwhich$375,000isunrestricted.

 Maintain$2.8millioninincome  $1,116,500receivedto date.

3. ProvidefocusedsupporttoDVR.Seekeyperformanceindicators below:

 Invest$60,000inDVRdirectedexpenses  $12,333 investedatthistime.

 Refer100%ofHSHTstudentstoDVR  Achievedand ongoing.

 RecognizeDVRinallcommunicationtools  Achieved.

 ActasArtCIEsubcontractmanager  Achievedand ongoing.

 Investupto$200,000inDVRprofessionaldevelopment initiatives  RevisinginpartnershipwithDVRleadership toutilizefundsforatechnologysolutiontocase managementpinchpoints.

Date:March20,2025at8:00a.m.

Location:TallahasseeShumakeroffice

Adjourn MotiontoadjournmadebyDirectorLoriFahey.Meetingadjournedat 12:09p.m.

Respectfullysubmitted, James“Chip”WilliamByersIV,

Secretary

FloridaEndowmentFoundationforVocationalRehabilitation,dbaTheAbleTrust DRAFT-MeetingMinutes

BoardofDirectorsMeeting–March20,8:00a.m.to3:00p.m.

VirtualMeeting

MembersinAttendance

MembersAbsent

StaffinAttendance

OthersinAttendance

ToddJennings,James“Chip”Byers,StephanieWesterman,Dr.MavaraAgrawal, AlexisDoyle,KellyRogers

DougHilliard,LaurieSallarulo,LoriFahey

Item Action/Discussion

I. CalltoOrder

II. RollCalland Establishmentof Quorum

III. Approval of Agenda –Action

IV. Approval of Consent Agenda – Action

a. FY24-25 Quarter 2 Profit & Loss Statement

b. FY24-25 Quarter 2 Balance Sheet

V. ActionItems(30 Minutes)

a. FY23-24Budget Amendment

VI. RegularBusiness

a. DebriefCrossingthe StageEvent

PresidentChasecalledthemeetingtoorderat8:34a.m.

ChipByers,BoardSecretarycompletedrollcallandaquorumwasestablishedat 8:37a.m.

Motiontoapprovetheagenda,firstbyDirectorToddJenningsandsecondedby DirectorStephanieWesterman.Motioncarried.

ConsentagendaapprovedfirstbyDirectorToddJennings,andsecondedbyDirector AlexisDoyle,motioncarriedunanimously.

PresidentChasereviewedtheBalanceSheetandtheProfit&LossStatementwith theboard.

DuetotheunexpectedpassingofMr.JohnPettingill,hisestateisnowinprobate, andweneedtoincreasethelegalbudgetlineto$25,000tocoverlegalcostsduring thistimetoensurewearesoundlynavigatingwhatMr.PettingilllefttoTheAble Trust.

Variousmembersoftheboardmentionedthattheythoughttheeventwasasuccess! ItwasgreattohavetheHSHTAmbassadorsandstudentsfromsitespresentatthe eventaswellasparents.Theeventbroughtinover$100,000indonations.The boardappreciatedthatitdidnotfeellikearequirementtogive,butthatitwasa

b. DebriefDataWalk

InformationItems

showcaseoftheimpacttheyouthprogramshaveacrossthestateandfostered supportfromlegislatorsandothercommunityleadersfortheworkTheAbleTrustis doingasthedirectsupportorganizationtotheDepartmentofVocational Rehabilitation.

DuringtheboardmeetingkeyspeakersfromorganizationslikeProject10andthe DepartmentofVocationalRehabilitationcameintoshareimportantinformation relatedtoresources,services,statistics,andgapsinthesystemsthatmaybarand benefitpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareseekingtobecompetitivelyemployed.

Between9:45a.amand3:00p.m.,boardmemberswereaccompaniedbyAbleTrust stafftomeetwithlegislatorstoprovideupdates,reports,andshowcasetheimpact TheAbleTrusthasonthelivesofstudentswithdisabilitiesthroughtheHighSchool HighTechprogram.

NewBusiness N/A

NextBoardMeeting VirtualBoardMeetingonMay22,2025at10a.m.

Adjourn DirectorStephanieWestermanmotionedtoadjournthebusinesspartofthemeeting at9:46a.m.

Respectfullysubmitted, James“Chip”WilliamByersIV,Secretary

Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual

of March 31, 2025

FY 2026 – FY 2027

Officers Slate

• Chair – Laurie Sallarulo

• Vice Chair – Dr. Mavara Agrawal

• Treasurer – Doug Hilliard

• Secretary – Chip Byers

Vision: A Florida where all people with disabilities reach their employment potential.

Mission: To support Florida Vocational Rehabilitation in the advancement of employment for all Floridians with disabilities through engagement, investment, and collaboration.

Strategic Priority #1: Expand The Able Trust youth programs to serve 5,000 students annually by FY 20272028.

FY26 Key Performance Indicators

• Serve 2600 students.

• Maintain 99% graduation rate.

• 42% of HSHT seniors complete FAFSA.

• Pilot a HSHT/Pre-ETS model in partnership with VR. Create an expansion plan based on learnings.

• Develop a post-secondary readiness tool.

• Implement research plan for youth programs.

Strategic Priority #2: Secure a more diversified funding base to ensure organizational stability and achieve exponential impact. Raise $12 million in 4 years.

FY26 Key Performance Indicators

• Raise $1.2M in new funds, 60% of which will be unrestricted dollars.

• Maintain $3.1 million in current income (investments, legislative, grants, donors, sponsors).

• Grow state support through contracted Pre-ETS services and legislative budget requests.

Strategic Priority #3: Provide focused support for VR.

FY26 Key Performance Indicators

• Create a $1M revolving fund for HSHT/Pre-ETS sites’ start-up costs

• Invest $60k in VR directed. expenses for marketing materials and employee recognition.

• Refer 100% HSHT and FinF students to VR.

• 80% of HSHT students will obtain a key VR metric (i.e., Measurable Skills Gains, Credential Attainment).

• Recognize VR in all communication tools.

• Invest up to $200k in VR directed projects and initiatives.

Tools and Strategies

**Major Gifts Ramp Up

FY25 Review-The Able Trust Programs

High School High Tech

• 1,226 students participated in High School High Tech as of April 17, 2025, a slight decrease of the total number of students served in FY24

• This was due to an unexpected loss of four programs (Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist and Union counties) due to organization partner switch over.

• The four contracts were replaced in Q4 with programs in Dixie, Okeechobee, Flagler and Martin Counties.

• The Program Evaluation project was successfully completed. The year end analysis will occur in July.

• The annual professional development conference for HSHT program staff was held successfully in Orlando.

• Site of the Year was Abilities of Florida which serves students in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Futures in Focus

• 610 students participated in Futures in Focus as of May 13, 2025.

• 100% of participants met with DVR Counselors.

• 63% of participants had an increased interest, as indicated in pre and post surveys, in participating in postsecondary education opportunities.

• A main takeaway from many projects was the need for parents to be educated alongside the students – to learn possible ways their students can engage in life after high school

• Futures in Focus sites: Alachua, Brevard, Desoto, Hernando, Lake, Martin, Orange, Putnam, Seminole counties.

Communications and Research – Update on Meeting Strategic Priorities

In addition to The Able Trust communications efforts to increase brand awareness and inform stakeholders about our purpose, programs and successes, communications tools are used across all KPIs within the three strategic priorities

#1: Expanding The Able Trust Youth Programs

• The 30th anniversary of High School High Tech (HSHT) presented an opportunity to help raise awareness. Working with local media, we were successful in having radio and television news spots that focused on the anniversary.

• During the 2025 Legislative Session we distributed an annual report that illustrated the success of HSHT, in support of continued Legislative funding.

• HSHT information was also distributed to legislators and included regional snapshots and a local student story, illustrating the local impact.

• New student success stories were developed to use on the website, in social media and in meetings with legislators and prospective donors.

• Engagement with communication tools:

o Social media engagement: Our social media engagement rate from July 2024 to May 2025 is an average of 10.46%– compared to typical nonprofit engagement of between 1% and 3.5%.

o Website engagement – area for improvement: Our engagement rate is 43.6% with a goal of increasing to between 60% and 70%.

#1: Develop Research Plan for Youth Programs

• A research plan was developed and includes the following components:

o Identify best practices for Pre-ETS to inform our efforts to expand HSHT in more school districts in Florida.

o Work with consultants to determine what information is needed to measure the return on investment and economic impact of HSHT.

o Identify data available through DOE to better understand the population of students with disabilities and graduation rates by disability

o Work with VR to learn more about the trajectory of (Pre-ETS) students with disabilities who become clients, determining what their employment outcomes are.

#2: Diversify Funding

• New student success stories, HSHT coordinator testimonials, a new Case for Support and local radio advertising were used to support both the awareness event in 2024 and the 2025 fundraising event.

• Other communications messaging and tools continue to be updated to better meet the needs of development efforts.

#3: Support VR

• Support VR through highlighting their efforts with students in communications tools

• Work with VR staff to identify opportunities for partnering on webinars

• Include VR logo in all communications tools.