Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$722,250

Total expenses

$741,240

Contributions and grants received

$741,670

Grants paid

$350,000

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$15,760

Other revenue

-$35,180

Total assets, end of year

$1,261,933

Total liabilities, end of year

$57,048

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$1,204,885

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$446,521

Management and general expenses

$124,745

Fundraising expenses

$169,974

Program service expenses (Part III)

$446,521

Program services were 60.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• THE AURORA FOUNDATION CURRENTLY FOCUSES ITS GRANT MAKING ON GREATER HARTFORD AREA WOMEN'S COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS. AURORA'S GOAL THROUGH ITS GRANT MAKING IS TO EMPOWER MORE WOMEN TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION, THEREFORE ENABLING THEM TO BETTER THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILIES. OUR AURORA-FUNDED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS GIVE WOMEN, ESPECIALLY LOW-INCOME, WOMEN OF COLOR, AND FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE AND PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED BEST PRACTICES FOR THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING AND ADVISING, MENTORING AND INTRODUCING WOMEN TO ROLE MODELS, BUILDING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS, ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS CHILDCARE AND TRANSPORTATION--AND NOW DURING THE PANDEMIC, HELP NAVIGATING ONLINE LEARNING, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND NEEDS FOR FOOD AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AURORA PRIDES ITSELF IN NOT JUST FUNDING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO BEING A RESOURCE AND PARTNER TO OUR GRANTEES. OUR ESSENTIAL EQUITY REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 DOCUMENTED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOMEN SURPASSED MEN IN APPLYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN CONNECTICUT. OF THOSE WOMEN APPLYING, 75% DID NOT HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE. THIS DATA TELLS US THAT INCREASING ACCESS TO AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO INCREASE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND PROTECT THEM FROM THE IMPACT OF HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISES. AURORA'S ENHANCED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM IS A NEW INITIATIVE THAT DEEPENS AND EXTENDS OUR WORK TO SUPPORT A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN AURORA-FUNDED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS WHO WILL RECEIVE ACCESS ADDITIONAL MENTORING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS AND FUNDING FOR HOUSING, CHILDCARE, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH), TRANSPORTATION AND TUITION. WITH THESE BARRIERS REMOVED, THE GOAL IS FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THEIR STUDIES AND TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE ANY ADDITIONAL BARRIERS. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT PER STUDENT THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS, BUT ALSO A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. ALONG SIDE OUR EXISTING COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS, THE NEW ENHANCED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND BARRIER REDUCTION, ALONG WITH EFFECTIVE MENTORING AND CASE MANAGEMENT, CAN INCREASE COLLEGE SUCCESS FOR WOMEN FROM UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. IN 2023, WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THIS NEW PROGRAM.

  Expenses $366,872 · Grants $315,000

• AURORA'S RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE REGION. BEGINNING IN 2019 AND UPDATED YEARLY, AURORA PARTNERED WITH OTHER CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S FUNDS AND CONNECTICUT DATA COLLABORATIVE TO CREATE THE WOMEN AND GIRLS DATA PLATFORM (WGDP), A CUTTING-EDGE TOOL TO SHARE INFORMATION AND EQUIP NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH INFORMATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CONNECTICUT. AN ONLINE, INTERACTIVE TOOL, THE WGDP PROVIDES ACCESS TO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA SPECIFIC TO REGIONAL, CITY, AND STATEWIDE LEVELS THAT IS AGGREGATED FOR GENDER AND RACE. THE DATA COMPARES TRENDS ACROSS REGIONS AND THE STATE AND AIDS IN BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL NEEDS. DATA IS FEATURED BY DEMOGRAPHICS, HEALTH AND SAFETY, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE COLLABORATION ON THE WGDP MEANT THAT WE HAD THE TEAM IN PLACE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE DATA NEEDS OF THE PANDEMIC. IN JANUARY 2021, AURORA PUBLISHED ESSENTIAL EQUITY: WOMEN, COVID-19 AND REBUILDING CONNECTICUT, A REPORT THAT DOCUMENTED THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMEN OF COLOR. AURORA DISTRIBUTED AND PRESENTED THE REPORT'S INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS, THE WOMEN'S CAUCUS OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE LEGISLATURE, THE GREATER GIVING SUMMIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD BY THE GATES FOUNDATION, THE PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN HARTFORD, AND NUMEROUS OTHER LOCAL AND STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP CENTER THE NEEDS OF WOMEN OF COLOR IN PLANNING FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF AND RECOVERY. WE OFFERED TWO TRAINING SESSIONS ON DATA LITERACY, WITH 50 ORGANIZATIONS SERVING WOMEN AND GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATION ON HOW TO USE THE WGDP AND ESSENTIAL EQUITY REPORT TO DOCUMENT THE NEED, IMPROVE PROGRAMMING AND SECURE FUNDING. IN 2022, AURORA PRODUCED EXPOSING CT'S EVICTION CRISIS, A RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH CT DATA COLLABORATIVE AND CT'S FAIR HOUSING CENTER THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SHOWED THE GENDER AND RACE OF THOSE FACING EVICTION PROCEEDINGS. AN INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWS WHERE EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN FILED SINCE 2017 AND WE ARE SEEING A RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, WITH WOMEN OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. THE CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE HAD THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHILE THEY DEBATED AND ULTIMATELY PASSED NEW LEGISLATION GUARANTEEING TENANTS ACCESS TO FREE LEGAL COUNSEL DURING EVICTION PROCEEDINGS. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN MORE WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES STAYING SAFELY HOUSED. IN 2023, AURORA PUBLISHED ELUSIVE EQUITY: CONTINUING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY, A FOLLOW UP TO ASSESS THE CONTINUING PANDEMIC-RELATED OBSTACLES TO WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY IN THE STATE. THE REPORT WAS FEATURED ON AN EPISODE OF NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO'S DISRUPTED PODCAST, WHICH REACHES A STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

  Expenses $32,649 · Grants $15,000

• AURORA EDUCATES AND ENGAGES WOMEN AND MEN IN THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPY THAT IS TARGETED TO PROGRAMS THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN US BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES WHERE WOMEN AND GIRLS THRIVE. IN SPRING OF 2023, AURORA'S WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE FOCUSED ON THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY. FUNDS RAISED WENT TO HELP 4 ORGANIZATIONS ON-THE-GROUND, ADDRESSING CHILDCARE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PERIOD POVERTY, AND JOB READINESS. 50 WOMEN JOINED THE GIVING CIRCLE AND RAISED $20,000 THAT WENT 100% TO THE ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED AS MEETING THE COMMUNITY NEED. AURORA'S 100 MEN CAMPAIGN RETURNED TO TRINITY HEALTH STADIUM FOR A NETWORKING EVENT, WITH MALE ADVOCATES FOR AURORA AND FOR PHILANTHROPY DIRECTED TO WOMEN AND GIRLS ATTENDING A FUNDRAISER WITH THE HARTFORD ATHLETIC SOCCER TEAM. 150 MALE COMMUNITY LEADERS PARTICIPATED IN FUNDRAISING AND EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATED FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

  Expenses $47,000 · Grants $20,000

• AURORA'S WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FORUM BRINGS TOGETHER DIVERSE WOMEN STUDENTS FROM HARTFORD AREA COLLEGES FOR A HALF-DAY CONFERENCE THAT INCLUDED A PANEL OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN OF COLOR OFFERING THEIR CAREER AND LIFE ADVICE, FACILITATED NETWORKING WITH WOMEN PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR BOARD, VOLUNTEERS, AND CORPORATE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, A PANEL OF STUDENTS SHARING THEIR STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS, INFORMATIONAL TABLES ON INTERNSHIP AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES, AND A FACILITATED EXERCISE IN MOVEMENT AND MEDITATION FOR FOCUS AND STRESS RELIEF. WE HAVE BEEN PROUD TO PARTNER WITH CAPITAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND YWCA HARTFORD REGION TO OFFER THE PROGRAM TO WOMEN STUDENTS AT CAPITAL, AS WELL AS TO STUDENTS FROM OUR AURORA-FUNDED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS AT UCONN HARTFORD AND UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD. IN 2022 AND 2023 WE HAVE WELCOMED 125 PARTICIPANTS, WHICH INCLUDED STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED BY SHARING THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ADVICE WITH STUDENTS DURING A FACILITATED NETWORKING SESSION.

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

• MEGHAN BURNS

  CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ISABEL CEBALLOS

  1ST VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• KAREN DIAZ-MEAIKE

  2ND VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• AMY MILLER

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• KATE BITTINGER-EIKEL

  SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• LINDSAY MARTIN

  MEMBER-AT-LARGE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• KAREN BINKHORST

  MEMBER-AT-LARGE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• MAUREENCOOPER

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• SAMANTHA CASTILLO-DAVIS

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• KYRA DORSEY

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• KATE FARRAR

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• EVELYN JOHNSON

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ELAINE LESHEM

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• KAREN LOTT

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• STEPHANI ROMAN

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ANGELICA SOTO

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• MEG STOECKLIN

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ANN THOMAS

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• MAUREEN ZAVATONE

  MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• JENNIFER STEADMAN

  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $126,875

  From this org

  $126,875

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Hours/week

  40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

• YWCA HARTFORD REGION INC

  $173,000

  COLLEGE SUCCESS GRANT AND ENHANCED COLLEGE SUCCESS GRANT PROMOTING WOMEN'S EDUCATION

• CHARTER OAK STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC

  $98,000

  COLLEGE SUCCCESS GRANT INSTALLMENT

• HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

  $19,000

  COLLEGE SUCCESS GRANT PROMOTING WOMEN'S EDUCATION

• UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE

  $15,000

  COLLEGE SUCCESS GRANT PROMOTING WOMEN'S EDUCATION

• INFORMCT INC

  $15,000

  COLLEGE SUCCCESS GRANT INSTALLMENT

• THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOUNDATION INC

  $10,000

  COLLEGE SUCCCESS GRANT INSTALLMENT

• GIRLS FOR TECHNOLOGY INC

  $6,000

  WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE GRANT TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY

• YWCA NEW BRITAIN

  $6,000

  WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE GRANT TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

2 August 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.1

Source object

202442159349300714

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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