2021-11-12T11:17:24-07:00 2020-12-31 Jay Lyons Finance 3510 41ST AVE S MINNEAPOLIS MN 55406 990 2020-01-01 411900265 LOS OLIVOS CIS LOSO 6514829901 9 Hawthorne Court North Oaks MN 55127 Gary Ellis Associate Director 6514829901 2021-11-12 1 Jay Lyons P01254333 6514265670 2021-11-09 X 1 11 0 AAL2 2020 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z Leslie Schuld 9 Hawthorne Court North Oaks MN 55127 971147 0 X cis-elsalvador.org X 1998 MN Promoting solidarity and cultural exchange across borders between the people of El Salvador and others in the search for development and dignity. 10 10 1 200 0 0 662504 800303 55972 170828 41 16 0 0 718517 971147 574539 791012 0 0 27252 32114 0 0 18007 84259 76650 686050 899776 32467 71371 956479 970754 60771 3676 895708 967078 Promoting solidarity and cultural exchange across borders between the people of El Salvador and others in the search for development and dignity. The mission of Los Olivos CIS is carried out primarily through program grants to the Center for Interchange and Solidarity (CIS) in El Salvador. 0 0 396946 323530 111777 Civil rights, democratic development, emergency aid, and advocacy programs: Los Olivos CIS continued to support 25 organizations in the CIS Community Network for Cooperation and Solidarity; though we had to make many adjustments due to COVID19 and reduce meetings since the strict quarantine was implemented in March for four months and additional restrictions continued throughout the year. *** CIS Clean Water and the Environment program: CIS trained and distributed water filters to 290 families, benefitting 1,247 individuals despite the fact the program was closed for seven months. We were not able to install Clean Water for the World Purification Units since local schools and community centers were closed. CIS contributed water filters to the Public Health Clinic in Distrito Italia to provide clean water and sanitary conditions for hundred of patients. Los Olivos CIS and Romero Community worked with the government water utility to be able to provide potable water to 153 families in Paso Puente Community in Tonacatepue. This water project will also serve hundreds of families in neighboring communities as well. The CIS provided legal support to transfer title to land purchased with CIS donations 18 years ago, so 205 families in Bellos Horizontes Community in Comasagua could have access to potable water system in their homes. Although the land was purchased years ago to provide one water source for the entire community, working out the inheritance rights of 12 children and a widower was very complicated. The community now has water security. CIS provided tools and implements to develop an organic garden for 25 families in Valle Nuevo, Tonacatepeque. *** The CIS Building Community and Dignified Homes Program completed the construction of 64 homes in Paso Puente Community, an urban shanty town in Toncatepeque with families who lived in deplorable conditions. The homes were built in association with the Salvadoran Ministry of Housing and Homes from the Heart. Sixty of the Homes had a roof installed when Hurricane Amanda hit on May 31st. CIS negotiated to get government permits to continue building with only local employees during the strict quarantine so that families would have a place to quarantine and get as much construction done before the rainy season began in May. CIS built retaining walls on four of the homes to prevent risks of landslides. The CIS distributed art supplies to the families since the art and mental health course as well as in person classes were suspended in 2020. The area is high risk for youth, and the CIS has engaged to the Salvadoran Government to be part of a social transformation in the zone. *** Complete school supply packets were donated to 150 school aged students in Distrito Italia, Romero Community and Paso Puente. This is a zone of high risk for youth and the school supplies are an incentive to be able to continue their studies. *** In response to COVID19, CIS got special permits to deliver generous emergency food and cleaning supplies packages to families and sanitation committees. In addition to families losing income, public transportation was suspended which made it difficult for families to have access to basic needs. In April, May, and June CIS delivered over 500 family food and cleaning baskets and PPE to over 50 municipal sanitation committees - in which CIS scholarship students volunteered. This allowed us to see firsthand the conditions in the communities which expressed the urgent need for technology, computers, and internet for the students to continue their studies. The government later took over supplying food baskets and the CIS concentrated on technology for the rest of the year (see Scholarship program for more details). CIS also updated and modernized its own technology - providing laptops for online English and Spanish classes and a complete overhaul of CIS website and online craft store: www.cis-elsalvador.org thanks to the participation of the University of Maryland RH Smith School of Business Master's Program. *** CIS supported legal effort that resulted in the release of five women from prison after being falsely accused of abortion. Care packages and 14 scholarships were provided for the women and their children. 302254 299123 0 Youth Leadership Development and Scholarship Programs: Provides education to potential community leaders who would not be able to study without help and at the same time build awareness of their role as agents for making changes for social justice. The CIS worked with 23 local Salvadoran scholarship committees and 20 sister organizations as well as individual donors to raise funds for 204 youth to go to the university, 3 to participate in post graduate design course; 249 to high school and 78 students in k - 9th grade in 2020. Of those students 18 graduated with university degrees and 89 from high school in 2020. CIS was able to maintain the scholarship program throughout the pandemic, though leadership courses and regular volunteer program were suspended. None-the-less, CIS scholarship students were instrumental in volunteering in local sanitation committees, helping families access government aid packages, tutoring, and lending cell phones and orienting children without access or knowledge of technology. *** The CIS Gender Scholarship Fund provided 7 university and 3 high school scholarships to Trans women and women and their children, who have been wrongly jailed for miscarriages and have won back their freedom, so they can work to overcome marginalization and stigmatization and have access to dignified jobs. Most of these recipients live in extreme poverty and marginalized conditions and some dropped out during the year due to lack of ability to adapt or have access to technology. *** CIS distributed over 60 new laptop computers to share in 28 communities, installed and paid the monthly quota for 18 internet connections, and provided tables and other accessories for computer centers for students, and installed 7 cell phone expander antennas in communities where internet communities would not go. This was instrumental in reducing the number of drop outs due to COVID in the communities where CIS works. It also set up the infrastructure for ongoing coordination of the scholarship and leadership development and tool that are a necessity for students for the long term. 88772 69793 56995 Educational delegations and language and cultural exchange: CIS hosted four delegations with 32 participants in January and February before the implementation of the quarantine and suspension of all incoming flights for 6 months. The CIS had to suspend 8 confirmed delegations, including two organized around the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of St. Romero and four U.S. religious women killed in El Salvador. Organized delegations included Sister Parishes of Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Assumption, St. Elizabeth's and St. Sabina from Kansas City and Iowa. Through these exchanges scholarship programs were strengthened in Paso Puente Community, Tamanique, Cinquera, Romero Community, and Distrito Italia. CIS also hosted and provided translation for Homes from the Heart and Norwegian Popular Aid. Once CIS set up technological capacity in Communities, zoom exchanges were organized later in the year between St. Patrick's Church, Holy Spirit, St. Elizabeth's, and the First Congregational United Church of Christ with their sister communities. *** CIS re-organized its entire English and Spanish programs to give classes completely online. We had 17 in person Spanish students at the beginning of the year and 45 Spanish students online. CIS trained 22 volunteer English teachers including starting online English classes for the first time. The first cycle was in person had 55 students. The following 3 cycles all online taught a total of 83 students, as most Salvadorans were not accustomed, lost income, or did not have access to internet or a computer to take classes online. Thanks to agreements with York and New Brunswick Universities in Canada and the Brethren Volunteer service, and past volunteers, we were able to have highly trained online teachers. Additionally, we increased our capacity to be able to train teachers from anywhere in the world to give classes online as long as they have access to internet. 42860 40440 2655 Small business and women's development programs: Promoting women's active participation in their community, building self-esteem, training, and developing income generating businesses to improve the quality of life of women and their families. These businesses were gravely affected during the pandemic. The food businesses continued out of necessity, but supply chain, and offering services were altered with house-to-house deliveries. Small corner store operations thrived due to lack of transportation into the cities. CIS began to train women in social media, since most goods offered were done in traditional face to face methods at fairs, churches, schools, and social gatherings. *** CIS supports 16 artisan workshops which generate income for 75 individuals by selling their products in our store and filling internet orders of high-quality artisan products including purses and accessories, coconut jewelry, organic coffee, painted wooden products, cards and jewelry made from recycled materials, indigo dyed clothing, embroidery, and other items. Sales were greatly reduced due to the suspension of visitors to El Salvador, the closing of postal services outside the country, and people prioritizing necessities. CIS was able to generate sales of indigo dyed masks and computer cases giving work to two of the workshops. CIS also developed an online store to help promote the sale of handicrafts for the future. Additionally, CIS provided food baskets to all the artisan families to help survive at the onset of the pandemic. 42860 40440 2655 830832 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 MN X X Marie Jordan 7083088814 1128 S Williams St Suite A11 Westmont IL 60559 Leslie Schuld El Salv Legal Rep 40 X 20750 0 0 Rosemary Biggins Board Member 1 X 0 0 0 Kerm Fendler Board Member 1 X X 0 0 0 Susan Mull Board Member 1 X 0 0 0 Sara Mulrooney Board Member 1 X 0 0 0 Ed Osowski Board Member 1 X 0 0 0 Mary Frances Ross Board Member 1 X 0 0 0 Mike Tork Treasurer 5 X X 0 0 0 Gary Ellis Associate Director 5 X X 0 0 0 Robyn Smith Secretary 5 X X 0 0 0 Marie Jordan Chair 5 X X 0 0 0 20750 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 800303 0 800303 Delegation Fees 813311 27945 27945 0 0 Language Training 611630 29051 29051 0 0 Solidarity Crafts 624000 2655 2655 0 0 Dignified Homes 624200 111177 111177 0 0 0 0 0 0 170828 16 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 971147 170828 0 16 0 0 0 0 791012 791012 0 0 30500 0 15250 15250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1614 0 807 807 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1645 0 1645 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 1466 537 0 2460 1236 0 1224 36132 9031 27101 0 1316 0 1316 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1273 547 0 726 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7419 6495 924 0 0 0 0 0 Delegation Hosting Expenses 15290 15290 0 0 Program Activities 5755 5755 0 0 Bank Charges 3357 0 3357 0 899776 830832 50937 18007 709481 701158 70045 100062 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 258015 88481 176953 169534 0 0 0 0 0 956479 970754 814 3676 0 0 59957 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60771 3676 X 276561 224277 619147 742801 895708 967078 956479 970754 X 71371 0 0 0 0 -1 X 0 0 0 X 1020064 582916 674342 662504 800303 3740129 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1020064 582916 674342 662504 800303 3740129 329257 3410872 66 42 52 42 16 218 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3740347 464160 0.91191 0.91893 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 7000 7000 0 195474 60373 135101 0 0 0 0 0 55541 28108 27433 0 0 0 0 169534 1 Central America and the Caribbean 1 1 Grantmaking See Form 990 Part III 759421 Central America and the Caribbean 0 0 Program Services See Form 990 Part III 63881 1 1 823302 Central America and the Caribbean Scholarships and educational assistance, community development projects, women's microenterprise development 759421 wire transfer 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schedule F, Part I, Line 2 Los Olivos CIS staff in El Salvador do ongoing monitoring of projects and produce an Annual Report. Womens microenterprises go through an in-depth evaluation process midyear and written report follows. Community representatives meet 3 times a year to update status of scholarship and youth formation activities. Each project receives a visit at least once a year from partner organizations and/or Los Olivos Board members. Los Olivos maintains original copies of all receipts for project grants. Meticulous records of spending of granted funds are kept and reported annually. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 8b No such committee Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Copy of Form 990 emailed to directors with opportunity to ask questions. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c All directors are required to annually review the conflict of interest policy and certify compliance prior to each annual meeting of the board of directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The Board sets the Executive Director's compensation. Comparability data is not available because the Executive Director resides outside the U.S. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Form 990 is available on Guidestar. The Executive Director or the Board will provide 990 and other documents to any interested party upon request. Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 Rounding Error