Project Zawadi Inc.
Project Zawadi Inc.
253 DUKE ST
Saint Paul MN 55102-3115
Saint Paul MN | IRS ruling year: 2002 | EIN: 06-1629249
Mission not available
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253 DUKE ST
Saint Paul MN 55102-3115
Saint Paul MN | IRS ruling year: 2002 | EIN: 06-1629249
Mission not available
Great
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
Project Zawadi Inc. has earned a 100% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2021, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
Learn more
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
---|---|
$1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
$500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
---|---|
Less than 50% | Full Credit |
50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
---|---|
70% or higher | Full Credit |
60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
No Data Available
Revenue and expense data is not available for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last six years.
No Data Available
Key Persons data is currently unavailable for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last six years.
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Project Zawadi Inc.) or EIN (061629249) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Project Zawadi Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting inflation and falling stock market negatively impacted our ability to raise funds as donors pulled back on giving. Inflation has made the cost of delivering services higher.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Our work slowed down for several months to keep our staff safe and healthy. Now, work has continued. Our work relies on guidance from the international community. Limited travel has meant experts and consultants were not been able to travel in-person to the Nyamuswa area for a period of time.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We have met challenges by incorporating more online meetings that bring together Tanzanian staff and international experts and volunteers together. This has inspired us to also coordinate virtual events that allow our supporters to connect directly with staff, teachers and students on the ground. This has resulted in many meaningful conversations and connections.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We have implemented a schedule of virtual events throughout the year that allow our supporters to connect directly with staff, teachers and students on the ground. This has resulted in many meaningful conversations and connections. Our weekly program Zoom meetings will continue. These allow our Tanzanian staff to connect with and benefit from the assistance of our board members and volunteers.
Not Currently Scored
Project Zawadi Inc. cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Learn More
No 990 Program Data Found
Project Zawadi Inc. has earned a 96% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Students, teachers, and community in the Nyamuswa area of Tanzania.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings or town halls
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
This is a difficult one for us at Project Zawadi. Culturally, the people we serve tend to want to only say nice things about us and work we do. We are now conditioned to really push for honest feedback. We have to be persistent and explain that honest feedback will allow us to improve our impact over time. Asking for feedback has shifted power. Community members play an important role in decision making. A definite sense of empowerment ha sbeen observed.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
Our Model Schools program is run on feedback from the community. Every initiative run by the program is a result of an intensive community-based model. Through local task force meetings, the work is identified. Our staff work with the community then, to carry the work forward.
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 95 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 9 Equity Practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Equity Practices (5/7) | |
---|---|
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. |
Equity Policies and Procedures (4/7) | |
---|---|
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. |
Project Zawadi Inc. has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
To Ensure Tanzanian Children And Youth Have Access To A Quality Education.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
All children and youth in Tanzania have access to a quality education.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Refine and demonstrate effectiveness of Tenda and Model School programs in primary schools before undertaking any significant expansion.
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Goal Two: Invest resources to build capability to deliver mission. Take a fiscally and operationally responsible approach to developing existing programs & assigning human and financial resources to new work.
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Goal Three: Assist communities and appropriate government agencies with development and implementation of systems required for them to sustain improvement in their schools.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
We're adopting the 'Traction' methodology of Leadership. Those in leadership positions are all reading and discussing 'Traction.' We are in the final phases of hiring an external consultant to help move this work forward.
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Engage in strategic partnerships: All three of our programs work with local and district government to implement their programs. Each program engages in additional partnerships based on their programmatic work (for example, Tenda Teachers is actively exploring partnerships with local colleges and universities, Model Schools works with a non-profit on it's Model Farms program. Community building, training and/or organizing: Project Zawadi's work is community-based and collaborative. When projects involve capacity building, trainings are most commonly carried out by leaders from local non-profits and companies. Collective impact efforts: Tenda Teachers helped to establish 'The Alliance for Teacher Professional Development in Tanzania.' The alliance is a group of educators & leaders from universities, NGOs, advocacy organizations, the Ministry of Education, and public schools who commit to working together to improve teacher professional development in Tanzania.
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Our organization's history is a story of adaptability. As we've grown and cultivated more resources, we've been able to respond to more needs identified by the community. We began purely as a direct aid sponsorship program. Within a few years, we realized, we should make sure the schools they are at are high quality and well functioning institutions. This led to the development of our Model Schools program. The Model Schools program facilitates community-led initiatives in the areas of leadership development, infrastructure, school safety, school clubs, water, and farms. Once the work of Model Schools was well underway, the challenges around teacher training and development became apparent. If we were to make a lasting impact on education in Tanzania, and have that work be sustainable, we would have to address this gap, thus the Tenda Teachers Program was born. In 2019 we allowed ourselves to think about education differently. Not all students thrive in a traditional education setting. We started an Apprenticeship program. This program allows students to learn from experts in their fields of interest and gain hands on experiences for two years. With the skills they gain, they are able to support issues that arise in other areas of the organization (example: tailors sew menstrual pads and uniforms for secondary students) Over time our larger capacity has allowed us to support extreme and emergent health issues students face. Our staff know that when they come across students in dire situations, they should do what it takes to help them. Finally, our ability to work through the challenges brought forth by a global pandemic is a shining example of our ability to adapt. Our staff can adjust their plans at the drop of a dime, they can accomplish work and support students in creative and new ways, we have been forced to learn to use technology in a ways that propels our work to the next level. We're coming out of this pandemic stronger than ever.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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