2024-02-23T08:29:32-06:00 2023-06-30 410746749 CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP 150 S WARNER ROAD SUITE 310 KING OF PRUSSIA PA 19406 990 2023-01-01 270500339 THE PULSERA PROJECT PULS 4843197040 131 N WAWASET ROAD WEST CHESTER PA 19382 SUSAN L PATTERSON PRESIDENT/TREASURER 4843197040 2024-02-21 1 SUSAN PATTERSON 999009999 0 WILLIAM A LOUGHERY P01603932 2156433900 2024-02-21 2 AAL1 IAL1 2023 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z SUSAN PATTERSON 131 N WAWASET ROAD WEST CHESTER PA 19382 552907 0 X WWW.PULSERAPROJECT.ORG X 2009 PA CREATE A MORE JUST COLORFUL WORLD VIA EDUCATION/EMPOWERMENT OF CENTRAL AMERICANS/U.S. STUDENTS. 3 3 4 8000 0 0 55215 44 0 6350 5859 5325 549533 414075 610607 425794 80043 42561 0 0 254516 147902 0 0 0 208976 133114 543535 323577 67072 102217 834822 937038 150000 150000 684822 787038 X THE PULSERA PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND COLORFUL WORLD THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF CENTRAL AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND U.S. STUDENTS. SEE SCHEDULE O.WE ENGAGE U.S. STUDENTS IN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR NICARAGUANS AND GUATEMALANS. WE ADVOCATE FOR PROGRESSIVE IDEAS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SERVICE THAT VALUE ECONOMIC AID AS JUST ONE PART OF A MUTUAL EXCHANGE THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS, AND LIFE EXPERIENCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL. 0 0 318994 42561 420425 THE PULSERA PROJECT'S NON-PROFIT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MODEL IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT ENRICHES LIVES BOTH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD BY WEAVING PULSERA SALES INTO AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. WE SELL PULSERAS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CENTRAL AMERICANS, BUT WE DO SO WHILE EDUCATING THOUSANDS OF U.S. STUDENTS ABOUT FAIR TRADE, CENTRAL AMERICAN CULTURE, AND A RANGE OF SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVES. WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO CARE ABOUT OTHERS, BUT WE ALSO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO OPEN THEIR MINDS TO THE AMAZING DIVERSITY OF IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES IN OUR WORLD. THIS WIN-WIN MODEL IS THE MAGIC OF THE PULSERA PROJECT.- SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION - 318994 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 X X SUSAN PATTERSON 6105471317 131 N WAWASET ROAD WEST CHESTER PA 19382 X SUSAN L PATTERSON PRESIDENT/TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 DANIELA GUERRERO SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CATHY MCCAULEY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 44 TEACHER EDUCATION TRIP 900099 6350 6350 6350 5325 5325 541188 127113 414075 414075 425794 420425 0 5325 42561 42561 135316 135316 2882 2882 9704 9704 3150 3150 27897 26464 1433 3543 3543 36053 36053 7631 7631 12386 12386 20770 20770 4852 4852 3846 3846 2546 2546 TEACHER TRIPS 3634 3634 PRODUCE EDUCATION MATL 3475 3475 FTF DUES 742 742 2589 2589 323577 318994 4583 0 389 6265 453815 459641 33000 20000 347618 451132 834822 937038 150000 150000 150000 150000 X 684822 787038 684822 787038 834822 937038 102217 0 X 0 0 0 X 7505 83871 49868 55215 45 196504 730149 226383 232211 549533 420424 2158700 737654 310254 282079 604748 420469 2355204 0 0 0 2355204 4775 1673 877 5859 5325 18509 4775 1673 877 5859 5325 18509 742429 311927 282956 610607 425794 2373713 0.99220 0.99360 0.00780 0.00640 X 1 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, 0 1 PROGRAM SERVICES WE BUY BRACELETS AND BAGS FROM ARTISANS IN NICARAGUA AND GUATEMALA, PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT. 288989 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, 0 1 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS WE FUND SCHOLARSHIPS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN NICARAGUA AND GUATEMALA. 42561 0 2 0 0 0 2 331550 0 331550 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS 8700 WIRE TRANSFER 0 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, EDUCATIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS 5580 WIRE TRANSFER 0 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, YOUTH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING EDUCATION PROGRAMS 7000 WIRE TRANSFER 0 2 1 ARTISAN LEADERSHIP/EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING/COMMUNITY BUILDING/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, 142 5081 CASH 0 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 2: WE REQUIRE ORGANIZATIONS TO SPEND FUNDS AS PER OUR INSTRUCTIONS. WE TRAVEL TO CENTRAL AMERICA MULTIPLE TIMES PER YEAR, AND DURING THOSE TRIPS WE VISIT WITH GRANT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS, REVIEW BOOKS, MEET WITH THE GROUP LEADERS TO PLAN AND REVIEW GRANTS. IF THE EXPENDITURE IS FOR SOMETHING PHYSICAL, LIKE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, WE REVIEW ESTIMATES AHEAD OF TIME, AND REVIEW THE FINISHED PROJECT WHEN COMPLETE. IF THE EXPENDITURE IS FOR SOMETHING LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS, WE REQUIRE ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION. COLIN P CRANE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP; SON OF OFFICER SUSAN L. PATTERSON 33283 COMPENSATION 0 FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE: THE PULSERA PROJECT HAS CHANGED OUR FISCAL YEAR IN 2023 TO END JUNE 30 RATHER THAN DECEMBER 31 IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE SCHOOL YEAR RATHER THAN THE CALENDAR YEAR. THIS CHANGE BETTER REFLECTS THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR INCOME & INVESTMENTS ARE THOUGHT ABOUT IN TERMS OF SCHOOL SEMESTERS RATHER THAN A CALENDAR YEAR. THIS WRITE-UP REFLECTS PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2023. OUR NEXT YEAR-END REVIEW AND 990 WILL BE SUBMITTED AFTER JUNE 30, 2024, WHEN OUR FIRST FULL YEAR ON THE NEW FISCAL YEAR TIMELINE ENDS. IN 2023, THE PULSERA PROJECT CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON DEVELOPING OUR THREE CORE COMPONENTS: 1) EMPLOYING GUATEMALAN & NICARAGUAN PULSERA ARTISANS 2) EDUCATING U.S. STUDENTS THROUGH THE SALE OF PULSERAS 3) INVESTING PULSERA SALE PROCEEDS IN CENTRAL AMERICAN COMMUNITIES SCHOOL COLLABORATIONS & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THE PULSERA PROJECT'S MISSION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS OF THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE U.S. EACH YEAR, WHOSE PULSERA SALES CREATE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR ARTISANS IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND RAISE FUNDS THAT GENERATE IMPACT AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN GUATEMALA AND NICARAGUA, ALL WHILE LEARNING ABOUT SOCIAL IMPACT, SOLIDARITY, FAIR TRADE, AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IN THE CLASSROOM. OUR CATALOG OF CURRICULUM MATERIALS CONTINUED TO BE A VITAL RESOURCE FOR SPANISH TEACHERS WHO LOOK TO THE PULSERA PROJECT TO EXPAND THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEIR STUDENTS. IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2023, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH 481 SCHOOLS HOSTING PULSERA SALES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOME HAVING HOSTED SALES MORE THAN 10 TIMES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, WHILE WE WELCOMED 157 SCHOOLS HOSTING PULSERA EVENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME. EACH EVENT WAS BROUGHT TO LIFE BY THE ENTHUSIASM AND HARD WORK OF THE CLASSES, CLUBS, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES THAT DEDICATED THEIR TIME TO THE PROJECT. WE APPRECIATE EACH STUDENT, TEACHER, AND VOLUNTEER WHO HELPED ALONG THE WAY. IN TOTAL, THE PULSERA PROJECT HAS NOW COLLABORATED WITH 3,628 SCHOOLS, AND WITH THE HELP OF MANY MULTI-YEAR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, 7,288 PULSERA PROJECT SCHOOL EVENTS HAVE BEEN HOSTED BY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SINCE 2009. EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE CONTINUING OUR FRUITFUL COLLABORATIONS WITH VISTA HIGHER LEARNING AND THE NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM IN 2023, BOTH OF WHOM ARE SPONSORING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHERS TO TRAVEL WITH US ON OUR SUMMER TRIP TO GUATEMALA. PARTNERSHIPS WITH THESE GROUPS AS WELL AS WITH AATSP, THE SOCIEDAD HONORARIA HISPNICA, AND SOCIEDAD HONORARIA AMISTAD HAVE BROUGHT AN INFLUX OF PULSERA SALES OUR WAY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR. THE ARTISANS OF GUATEMALA & NICARAGUA THE FIRST HALF OF 2023 SAW THE PROJECT CONTINUING TO BUILD & NURTURE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE 200+ ARTISANS WHO MAKE PULSERAS FOR THE PROJECT. ARTISANS COME FROM EIGHTEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS & COOPERATIVES FOURTEEN IN GUATEMALA AND FOUR IN NICARAGUA. IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2023 WE SPENT $199,636 PURCHASING FAIR TRADE PULSERAS AND PURSES FROM THESE ARTISAN GROUPS AND COOPERATIVES. THAT'S VITAL INCOME THAT WENT TO SUPPORTING ARTISANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH TOTAL OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE. PULSERA SALES IMPACT FROM THE MONEY RAISED BY SCHOOL PULSERA SALES, THE PULSERA PROJECT INVESTS IN OUR THREE COMPONENTS ARTISAN EMPLOYMENT, IMPACT INVESTMENT, AND THE U.S. SERVICE-LEARNING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2023 THE PROJECT INVESTED A TOTAL OF $242,197 IN OUR FAIR TRADE EMPLOYMENT ($199,636) AND SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS ($42,561) IN CENTRAL AMERICA. BEYOND OUR FAIR TRADE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, FUNDS WERE USED FOR IMPACT INVESTMENTS IN OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS CIRCULA ($5,000), ASOGEN ($8,700), ASOMUJERDI ($1,200), IMAP ($5,580), WARICHA ($7,000), ADISA ($5,000), AND CREAMOS ($5,000). THESE GROUPS DO ESSENTIAL WORK FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES, CONSTITUTING A RANGE OF PROJECTS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND PERMACULTURE, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER SERVICES, YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, DISABILITY ACCESS & ADVOCACY, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND MORE. ADELANTE IN 2023-24 AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE FIRST FILLED WITH PROFOUND HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE TO EVERY TEACHER, STUDENT, AND VOLUNTEER WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT RECENTLY. WE HAVE ALL DEALT WITH UNPRECEDENTED UNCERTAINTY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT EVEN THROUGH THE DARKEST DAYS IT WAS THE BONDS THAT CONNECTED US THAT KEPT US GOING. WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THE HEART OF THE PULSERA PROJECT ISN'T THE BRACELETS, THE VIDEOS, OR EVEN THE SALES, BUT THE AMAZING NETWORKS OF ARTISANS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ACTIVISTS, AND VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS BORDERS, CULTURAL DIVIDES, AND THOUSANDS OF MILES. OUR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE REMAIN LARGE DESPITE THE SETBACKS. WE HOPE TO DEVELOP CLOSER RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR 200+ ARTISAN PARTNERS IN THE COMING YEAR, RESEARCH EXPANDING OUR ARTISAN PROGRAM IN CENTRAL AMERICA, CONTINUE WITH OUR TEACHER TRIPS, AND COLLABORATE WITH MORE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, ALL WHILE WORKING TOWARDS THE BRIGHTER AND MORE JUST WORLD THAT WE ALL STRIVE TO BE A PART OF. THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE ADVENTURE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE 990 IS PREPARED BY AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM. EACH OFFICER REVIEWS THE FORM 990 INDIVIDUALLY, THEN COMMENTS OR ASKS QUESTIONS PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE COVERED UNDER THE POLICY. BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT ANY CONFLICT OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT. DETERMINATION AND REVIEW OF ANY CONFLICT NOT REPORTED IS MADE BY THE FULL BOARD. BOARD MEMBERS WITH CONFLICT ARE REQUIRED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM DISCUSSION/VOTING ON THAT MATTER. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.