Better Together 
The information on this page was last updated 6/22/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Our team is dedicated to helping people help themselves. We empower them to find employment and provide a loving, safe and supportive foundation for their children.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Better Together
15275 Collier Boulevard
Suite 201-284
Naples, FL 34119
Website: bettertogetherus.org
Phone: (239)470-2733
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 475591391
CEO/President: Megan Rose
Chairman: Tarren Bragdon
Board size: 6
Founder: Tarren Bragdon
Ruling year: 2016
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Better Families is aimed at preventing neglect and abuse before foster care is necessary. Our unique model enables parents who have fallen on hard times to voluntarily place their children with a loving host family for up to a year.
Mission statement
Empowering people through better families and better jobs.
Statement of faith
Articles
| 4/6/2026 | Protecting Children, Strengthening Families |
| 6/11/2025 | Ep. 476: Megan Rose is Disrupting the Foster Care System in Florida |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 552 of 1435 | 15 of 54 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 228 of 1435 | 3 of 54 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 507 of 1435 | 24 of 54 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1172 of 1436 | 40 of 54 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 94% | 94% | 98% | 100% | 97% | 86% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 4% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 6% | 6% | 2% | 0% | 3% | 14% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 78% | 86% | 82% | 83% | 84% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 33% | 26% | 20% | 64% | 65% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 74% | 28% | 21% | 16% | 54% | 56% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 67% | 74% | 80% | 36% | 35% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 40% | 55% | 84% | 49% | 61% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 12% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.06 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.20 | 0.85 | 0.93 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.24 | 1.01 | 1.01 | 1.00 | 1.02 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.86 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.20 | 0.87 | 0.93 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.13 | 195.64 | 126.16 | 63.68 | 51.93 | 12.09 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.20 | 61.98 | 61.95 | 58.15 | 13.49 | 11.89 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 19% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 20% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 9% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 521% | 519% | 487% | 115% | 87% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $8,116,934 | $5,254,484 | $9,382,304 | $1,415,335 | $834,298 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $170,912 | $62,184 | $18,960 | $65,981 | $106,966 |
| Short-term investments | $26,180,313 | $15,579,055 | $20,503 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $34,468,159 | $20,895,723 | $9,421,767 | $1,481,316 | $941,264 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $151,043 | $63,199 | $33,224 | $15,875 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $180,600 | $63,474 | $7,000 | $20,083 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $331,643 | $126,673 | $40,224 | $35,958 | $0 |
| Total assets | $34,799,802 | $21,022,396 | $9,461,991 | $1,517,274 | $941,264 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $176,181 | $126,757 | $55,303 | $28,523 | $77,863 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $38,878 | $92,659 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $176,181 | $165,635 | $147,962 | $28,523 | $77,863 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $87,355 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $20,723 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $108,078 |
| Total liabilities | $176,181 | $165,635 | $147,962 | $28,523 | $185,941 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $11,077,388 | $5,215,470 | $8,974,598 | $1,420,077 | $755,323 |
| With donor restrictions | $23,546,233 | $15,641,291 | $339,431 | $68,674 | $0 |
| Net assets | $34,623,621 | $20,856,761 | $9,314,029 | $1,488,751 | $755,323 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $19,173,782 | $15,085,480 | $9,710,402 | $1,960,299 | $1,148,651 |
| Program service revenue | $3,006 | $6,915 | $10,009 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,200,137 | $351,358 | $16,343 | $1,037 | $5,607 |
| Other revenue | ($12,669) | ($42,499) | $2,377 | $64,071 | $179,340 |
| Total other revenue | $1,190,474 | $315,774 | $28,729 | $65,108 | $184,947 |
| Total revenue | $20,364,256 | $15,401,254 | $9,739,131 | $2,025,407 | $1,333,598 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $5,738,993 | $3,283,380 | $1,596,803 | $1,087,110 | $740,966 |
| Management and general | $632,486 | $409,127 | $195,078 | $151,168 | $87,173 |
| Fundraising | $267,905 | $322,719 | $121,972 | $53,701 | $43,586 |
| Total expenses | $6,639,384 | $4,015,226 | $1,913,853 | $1,291,979 | $871,725 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $13,724,872 | $11,386,028 | $7,825,278 | $733,428 | $461,873 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $13,724,872 | $11,386,028 | $7,825,278 | $733,428 | $461,873 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Megan Rose | CEO | $268,160 |
| Isis Larose | VP of Strat. Prtns. & Market Dev. | $144,195 |
| Maria Hayes | CFO | $139,279 |
| Kayla Palacios | VP of Operations | $136,455 |
| Lora Bostick | Dir. of Development | $129,253 |
| Travis McGilvary | Sr. Dir., Workforce Relations | $118,890 |
| Jeffrey Bell | E.d. of Better Jobs | $111,959 |
| Jessica Tharpe | COO As of 09/03/2024 | $60,091 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 6/22/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The Better Together story began in 2015, when Megan Rose took the helm of a Chicago-based nonprofit model and started it the Southwest Florida community. After 10 years of working in the Florida child welfare system, she brought real-world experience and a heartfelt desire to prevent child abuse and neglect with an alternative to foster care.
Megan modified the program model, shifting from a state-funded approach to one that is 100% privately funded. As a result, she was able to inspire volunteerism at new levels and assure families that their children wouldn't be taken away just because they needed help.
Soon, she recognized that what at-risk parents need most is jobs. So, Better Together began the Better Jobs program, partnering with churches and employers to restore people's income and dignity. Thus, Better Together families and many others in the community have overcome significant barriers to employment and become self-sufficient, thriving members of society.
Since its inception, Better Together has helped more than 10,000 Florida children are successfully helping parents who wish to keep their families together. They have also connected more than 38,000 job seekers to work opportunities in 24 states and Washington, DC.
"We've innovated, grown and perfected our own model, learning what really works," said Megan. "Now, we want to take what we're doing with Better Families to all of Florida. And we plan to continue expanding Better Jobs by partnering with hundreds of churches across the country."
Program accomplishments
7,132 children served since startup