2016-08-12T11:41:59-05:00 2015-12-31 611416081 THE CURCHIN GROUP LLC 200 SCHULZ DR STE 400 RED BANK NJ 077016745 990 2015-01-01 205874831 INDEGO AFRICA PROJECT INDE 2125063697 51 WEST 52ND STREET SUITE 2300 NEW YORK NY 10019 KAREN YELICK CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2125063697 2016-08-10 1 CAROLYN GIUNCO KVALO P00291076 7327470500 2015 2016-12-15 16:53:06Z KAREN YELICK 51 WEST 52ND STREET SUITE 2300 NEW YORK NY 10019 966438 0 X WWW.INDEGOAFRICA.ORG X 2006 TX INDEGO AFRICA PROJECT SUPPORTS WOMEN IN RWANDA THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION. OUR MISSION IS TO BREAK INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLES OF POVERTY BY PROVIDING FEMALE ARTISANS WITH THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO FLOURISH AS INDEPENDENT BUSINESSWOMEN, AND DRIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.WE PARTNER WITH OVER 600 FEMALE ARTISANS IN RWANDA (WHO SUPPORT +5,000 DEPENDENTS) AND SELL THEIR BEAUTIFULLY HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS IN THE US. WE POOL 100% OF PROFITS FROM SALES WITH DONATIONS AND GRANT SUPPORT TO FUND JOB SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS IN TAUGHT BY TOP RWANDAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. RATHER THAN SIMPLY EXPORTING ARTISAN PRODUCTS INTO WESTERN MARKETS, WE PROVIDE INTENSIVE PRODUCTION AND EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT DRIVE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE BY HELPING WOMEN DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO THRIVE AS INDEPENDENT ENTREPRENEURS IN THE LONG RUN. 14 14 5 11 0 0 382212 572032 0 0 -1712 100 26368 74415 406868 646547 0 0 0 0 241897 251402 0 0 17223 129825 201164 371722 452566 35146 193981 258356 389230 116811 54200 141545 335030 X INDEGO AFRICA PROJECT SUPPORTS WOMEN IN RWANDA THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION. OUR MISSION IS TO BREAK INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLES OF POVERTY BY PROVIDING FEMALE ARTISANS WITH THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO FLOURISH AS INDEPENDENT BUSINESSWOMEN, AND DRIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.WE PARTNER WITH OVER 600 FEMALE ARTISANS IN RWANDA (WHO SUPPORT +5,000 DEPENDENTS) AND SELL THEIR BEAUTIFULLY HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS IN THE US. WE POOL 100% OF PROFITS FROM SALES WITH DONATIONS AND GRANT SUPPORT TO FUND JOB SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS IN TAUGHT BY TOP RWANDAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. RATHER THAN SIMPLY EXPORTING ARTISAN PRODUCTS INTO WESTERN MARKETS, WE PROVIDE INTENSIVE PRODUCTION AND EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT DRIVE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE BY HELPING WOMEN DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO THRIVE AS INDEPENDENT ENTREPRENEURS IN THE LONG RUN. 0 0 397953 BASIC BUSINESS TRAINING IS TARGETED AT THE WOMEN IN THE COOPERATIVES WE WORK WITH TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A BASIC LEVEL OF BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE. THE PROGRAM FEATURES 25 DYNAMIC LESSONS IN TOPICS SUCH AS ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE, BANK ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, QUALITY CONTROL, BUDGETING, PRODUCTION CAPACITY, AND KEY ENGLISH VOCABULARY. STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM MASTER BASIC BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WHICH HELP THEM TO BETTER RUN THEIR COOPERATIVES. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. THE INDEGO AFRICA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY WAS FOUNDED IN OCTOBER 2014 TO PROVIDE FREE ADVANCED BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR HIGH-POTENTIAL FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS IN RWANDA. A DIVERSE AND EXPERIENCED TEAM OF INDEGO AFRICA BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF DESIGNED THE 6-MONTH, 75-UNIT CURRICULUM, WHICH COVERS SUBJECTS LIKE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING (40%), SALES AND MARKET RESEARCH (30%), MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE (15%), PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY CHAIN (10%), AND BUSINESS STRATEGY (5%). STUDENTS USE THE LESSONS THEY LEARN TO IMPROVE THEIR COOPERATIVES' MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE, LAUNCH NEW BUSINESSES, CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, AND DRIVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. MARKET ACCESS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES END TO END BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR THE WOMEN ARTISANS WE PARTNER WITH. IN RWANDA, THESE WOMEN WORK IN COOPERATIVES-A LEGALLY RECOGNIZED FORM OF ASSOCIATION IN RWANDA THAT WAS PROMOTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AFTER THE 1994 GENOCIDE. AT THAT TIME, RWANDA'S POPULATION WAS 70% FEMALE AND ITS ECONOMY WAS IN SHAMBLES. WOMEN WERE LEFT TO REBUILD THE COUNTRY, YET MOST LACKED FORMAL EDUCATION AND STRUGGLED TO GAIN ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL EXPORT MARKETS. WE PARTNER WITH COOPERATIVES OF WOMEN ARTISANS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OF ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. WE HELP WOMEN GENERATE INCOME TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE PRESENT, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH TRAINING TO BUILD PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES FOR THE FUTURE. SPECIFIC SUPPORT ACTIONS INCLUDE DESIGN OF PRODUCTS AND SELECTION OF MATERIALS; SUPPLYING MATERIALS IN SOME CASES; ORDERING PRODUCTS, WHICH WE BUY IN RWANDA AND THEN EXPORT TO THE US FOR RESALE, PROVIDING A PAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE ORDER UPFRONT AND UPON COMPLETION; AND QUALITY CONTROL MONITORING TO ENSURE THE ORDER IS FILLED ACCORDING TO THE SPECIFICATIONS IN THE PURCHASE ORDER. GHANA PROJECT. IN 2015 WE PREPARED FOR THE LAUNCH OF OUR OPERATION IN GHANA, WHICH WILL BE BASED IN KUMASI. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO ESTABLISH MARKET ACCESS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IN RWANDA. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO HELP DISADVANTAGED WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP EFFECTIVE BUSINESS SKILLS AND BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE AN ADEQUATE REGULAR INCOME. DURING 2015 THE OFFICE LOCATION WAS SELECTED, INITIAL LEGAL REGISTRATION WORK WAS COMPLETED, KEY STAFF WAS SELECTED, AND INITIAL ORDERS FOR SAMPLES WERE PLACED WITH SELECTED ARTISAN GROUPS. IN FEBRUARY 2016 WE LAUNCHED OUR BASIC BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH ENROLLED 50 YOUNG PEOPLE IN ITS FIRST SEMESTER, MOSTLY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-25. THESE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING LESSONS IN FOUNDATIONAL BUSINESS TOPICS INCLUDING INVOICING, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, BOOK-KEEPING, PRODUCT PRICING, AND BUDGETING. 397953 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 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 0 1 0 0 5 1 0 1 RW 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 14 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 NY X X ORGANIZATION 2125063697 51 WEST 52ND STREET SUITE 2300 NEW YORK NY 10019 MATTHEW T MITRO CHAIRMAN 5.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS M MITRO DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 RANDY KAUFMAN DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 TARA ABRAHAMS DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BENJAMIN D STONE VICE CHAIRMAN 5.00 X 0 0 0 STEPHEN G FORESTA DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ALIA TUTOR DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 CHRIS BIROSAK DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 RYAN LESTER DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER FIELD DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KATHERINE BOAS DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KATHERINE CROST DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KAREN YELICK CEO/DIRECTOR 40.00 X 2995 0 0 JOSEPH OWENS CFO/DIRECTOR 20.00 X 0 0 0 2995 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11137 560895 572032 100 100 3695 11137 3695 0 390611 316196 74415 74415 646547 74415 0 100 2995 1499 299 1197 229147 205020 11324 12803 4238 3772 212 254 15022 13370 751 901 23645 23645 13325 11500 1825 5871 5577 294 8632 8632 4433 4211 222 2084 1250 834 MARKET ACCESS 50186 50186 GHANA PROJECT 45827 45827 HAND UP TRAINING 40517 40517 BANK CHARGES 3184 3184 3460 3408 31 21 452566 397953 37390 17223 113320 252710 60000 0 25597 32192 59439 100844 3484 258356 389230 15386 24200 66425 0 35000 30000 116811 54200 X 111545 120603 30000 214427 141545 335030 258356 389230 X 193981 -496 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 303864 234590 327373 360416 575727 1801970 303864 234590 327373 360416 575727 1801970 1801970 444 352 303 1 100 1200 81922 106438 57507 26368 74415 346650 2149820 0.83820 0.82810 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 649746 -496 -496 650242 -3695 -3695 646547 456261 3695 3695 452566 0 452566 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS THE ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE FOR UNCERTAIN INCOME TAX POSITIONS, WHICH CLARIFIES THE ACCOUNTING AND RECOGNITION FOR TAX POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN ITS INCOME TAX RETURNS. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE TAX BENEFITS FROM UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT A TAX POSITION WILL BE SUSTAINED ON EXAMINATION BY THE TAXING AUTHORITIES, BASED ON THE TECHNICAL MERITS OF THE POSITION. MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OR DECREASE OVER THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, NOR HAS THE ORGANIZATION INCURRED ANY INTEREST OR PENALTIES RELATED TO INCOME TAX EXPENSE DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: CURRENCY EXCHANGE LOSS -496. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: DIRECT FUNDRAISING COSTS -3,695. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: DIRECT FUNDRAISING COSTS 3,695. RWANDA 1 6 PROGRAM SERVICES TRAINING AND MARKET ACCESS 397953 1 6 0 0 1 6 397953 0 397953 0 0 1 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART V, LINE 13A NY FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 MATTHEW MITRO, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IS THE SON OF THOMAS MITRO, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MATTHEW MITRO AND THOMAS MITRO WERE ELECTED BY A VOTE OF THE FULLY-INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 DRAFT VERSIONS OF THE FORM 990 AND ALL UNDERLYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO MANAGEMENT AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO FILING THE FORM 990 WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, THE ORGANIZATION SURVEYS ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS TO ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE DETERMINATION OF THE CEO'S SALARY WAS CARRIED OUT BY A QUORUM OF FULLY-INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN ADDITION, A DETAILED STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF COMPENSATION FOR CEOS OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR ORGANIZATIONS OF A SIMILAR SIZE AND MISSION WAS UNDERTAKEN. THE DECISION AND THE PROCESS UNDERLYING IT WAS CERTIFIED BY A RESOLUTION OF THE FULLY-INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ACCOMPANIED BY MINUTES DOCUMENTING THE DELIBERATION AND DISCUSSION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 ALL INTERNAL POLICIES, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND PUBLIC FILINGS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON INDEGO AFRICA'S WEBSITE, AVAILABLE AT WWW.INDEGOAFRICA.ORG/FINANCE-AND-GOVERNANCE. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: CURRENCY EXCHANGE LOSS -496. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C NO CHANGE FROM PRIOR YEAR.