2016-11-08T10:57:44-06:00 2016-06-30 030280081 JMM & ASSOCIATES PC 336 WATER TOWER CIR STE 801 COLCHESTER VT 05446 990 2015-07-01 030369962 MERCY CONNECTIONS INC MERC 8028467063 255 SOUTH CHAMPLAIN STREET SUITE 8 BURLINGTON VT 05401 DOLLY FLEMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8028467063 2016-11-08 true RANDALL L SARGENT CPA P00136499 8026555665 2016-11-08 2015 2017-02-10 21:41:12Z DOLLY FLEMING 255 S CHAMPLAIN STREET BURLINGTON VT 05401 636102 false X WWW.MERCYCONNECTIONS.ORG X 2001 VT EDUCATIONAL VALUES-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION LIVING THE LEGACY OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY WITH AN ENDURING CONCERN FOR WOMEN. 19 19 15 256 0 612981 521365 73114 41107 118236 49158 1585 1425 805916 613055 3725 1110 0 554558 595930 0 84380 198821 179203 757104 776243 48812 -163188 1245386 1127352 32493 107347 1212893 1020005 X EDUCATIONAL VALUES-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION LIVING THE LEGACY OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY WITH AN ENDURING CONCERN FOR WOMEN. false false 553362 1110 MERCY CONNECTIONS WAS FOUNDED IN 2001 TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE MOVING TOWARD GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN BURLINGTON, VT. AFTER TRINITY COLLEGE CLOSED, THE SISTERS OF MERCY ESTABLISHED THIS EDUCATIONAL, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. TODAY, DIVERSE POPULATIONS, WHO SEE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, NEW EDUCATION AND/OR NEW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS A SOLUTION, COME TO LEARN, BUILD RESOURCES, AND PLAN FOR GREATER LIFE- SECURITY. WE FOSTER RADICAL HOSPITALITY, WARMLY WELCOMING OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY. OUR MISSION INSPIRES OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS, 19 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND 15 STAFF PERSONS TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF THREE GENDER-SENSITIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMS AREAS: THE WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM (WSBP); THE EDUCATION AND TRANSITION (E&T) PROGRAMS; AND MENTORING & JUSTICE (M&J) PROGRAMS. IN ALL THREE, PARTICIPANTS RECONNECT WITH THEIR CORE STRENGTHS, DEVELOP LIFE PLANS AND ENGAGE IN HIGH QUALITY, RESULTS-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES. OVER 1800 ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS HAVE GRADUATED FROM WSBP (EST. IN 1989 AT TRINITY COLLEGE). 150 ACTIVE BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY ALUMNI. EACH YEAR ABOUT 25 WSBP STUDENTS COMPLETE BANK READY BUSINESS PLANS. THE M&J PROGRAMS (EST. IN 2003) HAVE CONNECTED AND SUPPORTED 346 MENTORING PAIRS OF TRAINED MENTORS AND WOMEN RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. 90% OF WOMEN WITH M&J PROGRAM TRAINED MENTORS SUCCESSFULLY REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR POST- INCARCERATION. M&J PROGRAMS ALSO OFFER COURT DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES WHERE 80% OF WOMEN REFERRED FROM THE COURTS HAVE SEEN THEIR CHARGES DROPPED FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. E&T PROGRAMS SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OFTEN BEEN, SADLY, OVERLOOKED, HAVE LOW ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT, AND/OR ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. ANNUALLY, OVER 100 PEOPLE ATTEND AND MANY GO ON TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, CONTINUED EDUCATION, AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND/OR TAKE ON NEW ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WSBP STUDENTS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL ASPIRATIONS. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. THREE EXPERIENCED WSBP INSTRUCTORS DELIVER PROVEN, COLLEGE-LEVEL BUSINESS- PLANNING CURRICULA TO OVER 25 WOMEN PER YEAR. "GETTING SERIOUS" STUDENTS BEGIN TO CONSIDER BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND "START UP" STUDENTS BUILD BANK- READY BUSINESS PLANS. IN 2015 WSBP ALSO BEGAN TO OFFER FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE FINANCE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN AND MERCY MARKETPLACE WORKSHOPS FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERELY FEW RESOURCES. E&T PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BUILD HOPE, DETERMINATION AND STRENGTH TO MOVE TOWARD GREATER LIFE SECURITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. MANY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH POVERTY, TRAUMA, DISABILITIES, INJURIES, MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. CAREFULLY DESIGNED E&T PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS SELF-DIRECTED LIFE PLANNING AND ADULT LEARNING THROUGH: FOUR 10-WEEK PRE- WORK CERTIFICATION CLASSES; GED, ADULT DIPLOMA, ESOL & COMPUTER LITERACY TUTORIALS; READING & WRITING PROGRAMS, AND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. SUPPORT GROUPS, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND A WEEKLY LUNCHEON PREPARED BY VOLUNTEERS ARE OFFERED TO REINFORCE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SUPPORT AS PEOPLE MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES. M&J PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR CRIME-FREE LIVES. THE VERMONT WOMEN'S MENTORING PROGRAM (VWMP) OFFERS TRAININGS, MENTOR MATCHING AND SUPPORT TO 35 WOMEN RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY POST-INCARCERATION EACH YEAR, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE VT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND VERMONT WORKS FOR WOMEN. THIS PROGRAM REINFORCES HEALTHY COMPANIONSHIP, RECREATION, AND PRO-SOCIAL, ORIENTATIONS TO DECREASE CRIMINAL RISK. COURT DIVERSION PROGRAMS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS, SERVE WOMEN WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN SURVIVAL CRIMES. THEY ARE INVITED TO "START OVER" BY PARTICIPATING IN CURRICULUM-BASED LIFE-PLANNING PROGRAMS AND CHARGES CAN BE DROPPED WITH SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAMS. 553362 true true false false false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false true 6 0 15 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false X 19 19 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false true true false false X ALANA SHAW 8028467063 255 S CHAMPLAIN STREET BURLINGTON VT 05401 JOHN H CRABBE JR CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 LUCILLE BONVOULOIR RSM TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN BOSSANGE TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 ERICA DEAN TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 TJ DONOVAN TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 ANGELA EASTMAN TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 DAWN ELLINWOOD TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 YAEL FRIEDMAN TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 MARY HURLIE TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 HANK LAMBERT TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 ROSA LABOY-HERNANDEZ TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 PAMELA MACKENZIE TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 BOBBE MAYNES TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 LARRY MICHAELS TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 JENNY NAYLOR TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 BETTY RAMBUR TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 HEIDI STUMPFF TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 CAROL VALLETT TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 LESLIE MCCROREY WELLS TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 MARILYN CORMIER UNTIL 516 TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 THERESA A DIPALMA UNTIL 516 TRUSTEE 2.00 X 0 0 0 DOLLY FLEMING EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 74296 0 11859 74296 11859 false false false 64676 126000 330689 521365 PROGRAM INCOME 611710 41107 41107 41107 20016 20016 1425 1425 1425 1425 29142 29142 29142 29142 23047 64676 23047 613055 70249 21441 1110 1110 88495 39822 26549 22124 412182 307488 63723 40971 7493 5590 1158 745 49161 36674 7600 4887 38599 28795 5967 3837 8634 8634 6492 6492 4416 3802 374 240 18313 13662 2831 1820 20357 15187 3147 2023 60098 44833 9291 5974 2669 1991 413 265 6818 5086 1054 678 6859 5117 1060 682 1315 981 203 131 PROGRAM EXPENSES 43201 43201 MISCELLANEOUS 31 23 5 3 776243 553362 138501 84380 53989 107915 106291 20402 17500 27908 9300 4867 5969 67714 48668 16725 19046 1035612 947214 1245386 1127352 31965 56264 528 51083 32493 107347 X 113078 -107310 45000 72500 1054815 1054815 1212893 1020005 1245386 1127352 -163188 -29700 X false false false X 467579 423302 487162 520747 521365 2420155 467579 423302 487162 520747 521365 2420155 195988 2224167 22389 21099 29940 22602 21441 117471 2537626 366479 0.87650 0.86540 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1040427 4504 49159 110683 6492 976915 1122024 1800 56637 140034 1040427 1074038 204450 155653 811 1122024 1.00000 false false 67714 48668 19046 19046 MAY LUNCHEON 76688 57422 19266 19266 JAZZ JAM 11035 7254 3781 3781 87723 64676 23047 23047 23047 FORM 990 MERCY CONNECTIONS, INC. HAS ELECTED TO VOLUNTARILY FILE A FORM 990. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A PROGRAMS; AND MENTORING & JUSTICE (M&J) PROGRAMS. IN ALL THREE, PARTICIPANTS RECONNECT WITH THEIR CORE STRENGTHS, DEVELOP LIFE PLANS AND ENGAGE IN HIGH QUALITY, RESULTS-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES. OVER 1800 ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS HAVE GRADUATED FROM WSBP (EST. IN 1989 AT TRINITY COLLEGE). 150 ACTIVE BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY ALUMNI. EACH YEAR ABOUT 25 WSBP STUDENTS COMPLETE BANK READY BUSINESS PLANS. THE M&J PROGRAMS (EST. IN 2003) HAVE CONNECTED AND SUPPORTED 346 MENTORING PAIRS OF TRAINED MENTORS AND WOMEN RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. 90% OF WOMEN WITH M&J PROGRAM TRAINED MENTORS SUCCESSFULLY REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR POST- INCARCERATION. M&J PROGRAMS ALSO OFFER COURT DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES WHERE 80% OF WOMEN REFERRED FROM THE COURTS HAVE SEEN THEIR CHARGES DROPPED FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. E&T PROGRAMS SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OFTEN BEEN, SADLY, OVERLOOKED, HAVE LOW ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT, AND/OR ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. ANNUALLY, OVER 100 PEOPLE ATTEND AND MANY GO ON TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, CONTINUED EDUCATION, AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND/OR TAKE ON NEW ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WSBP STUDENTS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL ASPIRATIONS. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. THREE EXPERIENCED WSBP INSTRUCTORS DELIVER PROVEN, COLLEGE-LEVEL BUSINESS- PLANNING CURRICULA TO OVER 25 WOMEN PER YEAR. "GETTING SERIOUS" STUDENTS BEGIN TO CONSIDER BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND "START UP" STUDENTS BUILD BANK- READY BUSINESS PLANS. IN 2015 WSBP ALSO BEGAN TO OFFER FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE FINANCE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN AND MERCY MARKETPLACE WORKSHOPS FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERELY FEW RESOURCES. E&T PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BUILD HOPE, DETERMINATION AND STRENGTH TO MOVE TOWARD GREATER LIFE SECURITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. MANY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH POVERTY, TRAUMA, DISABILITIES, INJURIES, MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. CAREFULLY DESIGNED E&T PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS SELF-DIRECTED LIFE PLANNING AND ADULT LEARNING THROUGH: FOUR 10-WEEK PRE- WORK CERTIFICATION CLASSES; GED, ADULT DIPLOMA, ESOL & COMPUTER LITERACY TUTORIALS; READING & WRITING PROGRAMS, AND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. SUPPORT GROUPS, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND A WEEKLY LUNCHEON PREPARED BY VOLUNTEERS ARE OFFERED TO REINFORCE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SUPPORT AS PEOPLE MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES. M&J PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR CRIME-FREE LIVES. THE VERMONT WOMEN'S MENTORING PROGRAM (VWMP) OFFERS TRAININGS, MENTOR MATCHING AND SUPPORT TO 35 WOMEN RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY POST-INCARCERATION EACH YEAR, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE VT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND VERMONT WORKS FOR WOMEN. THIS PROGRAM REINFORCES HEALTHY COMPANIONSHIP, RECREATION, AND PRO-SOCIAL, ORIENTATIONS TO DECREASE CRIMINAL RISK. COURT DIVERSION PROGRAMS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS, SERVE WOMEN WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN SURVIVAL CRIMES. THEY ARE INVITED TO "START OVER" BY PARTICIPATING IN CURRICULUM-BASED LIFE-PLANNING PROGRAMS AND CHARGES CAN BE DROPPED WITH SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAMS. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B BOARD OF TRUSTEES PROVIDED A COPY OF FORM 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C BOARD OF TRUSTEES REVIEW CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ANNUALLY AND DISCLOSE ANY KNOWN OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. ANY BOARD MEMBER DEEMED TO HAVE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST WOULD REFRAIN FROM VOTING ON THE MATTER. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. US CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS 3211 4TH STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 200171194 530196617 EXEMPTION DC 501 7 N/A false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false SISTERS OF MERCY NE MINISTRY C 12000 CASH