Nonprofit · EIN 45-5273875
KULA PROJECT INC
Also known as Kula Project Inc
Tax-exempt · COSTA MESA, CA 92627
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $702,683 | $828,471 | -$125,788 | $439,558 | $4,637 | $434,921 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,004,964 | $873,995 | $130,969 | $558,064 | $4,946 | $553,118 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $622,797 | $767,538 | -$144,741 | $417,610 | $13,877 | $403,733 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $690,322
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $346
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $12,015
- Other revenue
- $12,015
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $475,935
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $102,600
- Other salaries and wages
- $125,100
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $255,069
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $21,426
- Program services (functional)
- $633,484
- Management and general (functional)
- $109,649
- Fundraising (functional)
- $85,338
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $558,064
- Total assets, end of year
- $439,558
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $4,637
- Net assets, end of year
- $434,921
- Publicly traded securities
- $109,863
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $405,089
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $29,832
- Gross unrelated business income
- $12,015
- Gross receipts
- $707,186
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 3
- Year formed
- 2012
- State of legal domicile
- GA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Lauten | Board Chair and Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 45 | $96,000 | $6,600 |
| Rebecca Pape | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Zane Wilemon | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Laura Peterson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nic Lauten | Board Chair and Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 45 | $92,250 | $6,600 |
| Rebecca Pape | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Zane Wilemon | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Caroline Numuhire | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nic Lauten | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 45 | $89,714 | $4,200 |
| Rebecca Pape | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Zane Wilemon | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Caroline Numuhire | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2135 REPUBLIC AVE, COSTA MESA, CA 92627-4020
- Mailing address (990-N for 2013)
- 2895 Leafwood Dr SE, Marietta GA 30067
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Nicholas Lauten, 647 Selene Street, Lynchburg, VA 24503
- Principal officer (990-N for 2013)
- James Sasson, 2895 Leafwood Drive, Marietta GA 30067
- Signed the 990
- Nicholas Lauten, Executive Director
- Phone
- (916) 217-1325
- Website
- Kulaproject.org
- Return prepared by
- JONES AND KOLB
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 45-5273875 or by the name KULA PROJECT INC.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
Kula exists to eradicate poverty through the development of entrepreneurs in Rwanda's coffee communities. We operate at the intersection of economic development, environmental sustainability, and gender equality, providing a poverty (continued on Schedule O) graduation model that joins regenerative agriculture support with entrepreneurial development and business coaching, empowering coffee farmers to increase their household income and move out of extreme poverty and into a life of prosperity, vision, agency, and hope.
Program accomplishments
- KULA Fellowship: The Kula Fellowship joins regenerative agriculture, household entrepreneurship, and personal coaching to equip coffee farming families to move out of extreme poverty and into a life of prosperity, vision, agency, and hope.Expenses $633,484 · grants $475,935
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 45-5273875
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2013
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C35)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $439,558
- Income (IRS master file)
- $707,186
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $702,683 | $828,471 | $439,558 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,004,964 | $873,995 | $558,064 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $622,797 | $767,538 | $417,610 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $899,916 | $828,996 | $548,779 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2013 Officer: James Sasson | December 31, 2013 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 45-5273875).
Questions about KULA PROJECT INC
- What is the EIN of KULA PROJECT INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of KULA PROJECT INC is 45-5273875.
- Is KULA PROJECT INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2013.
- Are donations to KULA PROJECT INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does KULA PROJECT INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of KULA PROJECT INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did KULA PROJECT INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of KULA PROJECT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Nicholas Lauten.
- Who are the officers and directors of KULA PROJECT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $96,000 (Nicholas Lauten, Board Chair and Executive Director).
- How much revenue does KULA PROJECT INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $702,683, expenses of $828,471 and total assets of $439,558 at year end.
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