Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by PENCILS OF PROMISE INCORPORATED.

Totals

Total revenue: $2,807,917
Total expenses: $3,945,658
Contributions and grants received: $2,806,538
Grants paid: $0
Program service revenue: $0
Investment income: $0
Other revenue: $1,379
Total assets, end of year: $1,225,764
Total liabilities, end of year: $583,963
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $641,801
Program services expenses (Part IX): $3,451,312
Management and general expenses: $153,982
Fundraising expenses: $340,364
Program service expenses (Part III): $3,451,312

Program services were 87.5% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

1c · Fundraising events

$333,704
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$2,472,834
8a · Fundraising events: gross income

$231,713
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

$333,704
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

$231,713
8c · Net income from fundraising events

total $0
10a · Gross sales of inventory

$1,096
10b · Cost of goods sold

$0
10c · Net income from sales of inventory

total $1,096 · related or exempt $1,096
11a · Other revenue: OTHER SUPPORT

total $283 · excluded $283
11e · Other revenue, total

$283

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $476,374 · program services $328,698 · management and general $57,165 · fundraising $90,511
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $1,148,077 · program services $1,030,343 · management and general $41,464 · fundraising $76,270
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $21,524 · program services $18,403 · management and general $1,147 · fundraising $1,974
9 · Other employee benefits

total $84,841 · program services $78,455 · management and general $2,128 · fundraising $4,258
10 · Payroll taxes

total $233,402 · program services $196,329 · management and general $13,742 · fundraising $23,331
11b · Fees: legal

total $1,539 · program services $1,481 · management and general $19 · fundraising $39
11c · Fees: accounting

total $247,057 · program services $211,705 · management and general $11,784 · fundraising $23,568
11g · Fees: other

total $261,289 · program services $222,482 · management and general $12,936 · fundraising $25,871
12 · Advertising and promotion

total $27,478 · fundraising $27,478
13 · Office expenses

total $111,733 · program services $94,973 · management and general $5,587 · fundraising $11,173
14 · Information technology

total $157,853 · program services $136,418 · management and general $7,145 · fundraising $14,290
16 · Occupancy

total $49,753 · program services $49,270 · management and general $161 · fundraising $322
17 · Travel

total $179,172 · program services $158,217 · fundraising $20,955
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $35,198 · program services $34,494 · management and general $704
24a · Other expenses: SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND IN

total $488,456 · program services $488,456
24b · Other expenses: SPECIAL EVENTS

total $188,349 · program services $168,025 · fundraising $20,324
24c · Other expenses: TEACHER SUPPORT

total $122,044 · program services $122,044
24d · Other expenses: PROGRAM MATERIALS

total $46,587 · program services $46,587
24e · All other expenses

total $64,932 · program services $64,932

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $1,191,796 · end of year $1,027,081
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $500,000 · end of year $95,163
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $20,545 · end of year $32,030
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$1,109,727
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$1,046,237
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $98,688 · end of year $63,490
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $8,000 · end of year $8,000
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $35,101 · end of year $83,963
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

end of year $500,000
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $1,132,728 · end of year $546,638
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $651,200 · end of year $95,163

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION. WE CREATE SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS, AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COMMON GOAL OF EDUCATION FOR ALL. WE ACCOMPLISH THESE ACTIVITIES BY DEDICATING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TIME, LABOR, AND EFFORT TO RAISING MONEY IN THE U.S. THROUGH YOUTH AND PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THROUGH THE YOUTH AND PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE FUNDS RAISED ALLOW US TO INCREASE OUR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL REACH AND IMPACT. AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2024, WE HAVE BROKEN GROUND ON OVER 600 SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD. OUR SCHOOLS ARE OPEN TO STUDENTS IN EACH COUNTRY AND THE STAGES OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION ARE UNDERWAY IN SEVERAL NEW COMMUNITIES ACROSS GHANA, GUATEMALA, AND LAOS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WE CREATE SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COMMON GOAL OF EDUCATION FOR ALL. AT PENCILS OF PROMISE, INC. ("POP"), WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION. WE CREATE SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COMMON GOAL OF EDUCATION FOR ALL. WE ACCOMPLISH THESE ACTIVITIES BY DEDICATING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TIME, LABOR AND EFFORT RAINING MONEY IN THE U.S. THROUGH YOUTH AND PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE FUNDS RAISED ALLOW US TO INCREASE OUR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL REACH AND IMPACT.

THE FIRST OF OUR CORE PROGRAMS IS SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTS TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED. IN THE SHORT TERM, OUR GOAL IS TO REPLACE INADEQUATE FACILITIES WITH SAFE, RELIABLE SCHOOL BUILDINGS. OVER THE LONG TERM, WE AIM TO IMPROVE STUDENT ATTENDANCE, PROGRESSION, AND TEST SCORES. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM ARE STUDENTS LEARNING IN POOR-QUALITY STRUCTURES AND TEACHERS WORKING IN THOSE SAME CONDITIONS. BY THE END OF 2024, WE HAD BROKEN GROUND ON 617 SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR PARTNER REGIONS.

Expenses $2,445,815 · Revenue $1,096
OUR SECOND CORE PROGRAM IS TEACHER SUPPORT. WE INVEST IN TEACHER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH IN-SERVICE AND WORKSHOP TRAINING SESSIONS. TWICE EACH MONTH, OUR STAFF VISIT GOVERNMENT TEACHERS IN PARTNER COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN LESSON PLANNING, METHODOLOGY TRAINING, AND BUILDING STRONGER CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS. TEACHERS ALSO ATTEND WORKSHOPS FOR GROUP TRAINING AND PEER NETWORK BUILDING. OUR APPROACH EMPHASIZES INTERACTIVE TEACHING METHODS THAT INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE ENGAGED STUDENTS PERFORM AT HIGHER LEVELS. IN THE SHORT TERM, OUR TEACHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING TEACHERS CREATE AND USE EFFECTIVE LESSON PLANS, ENCOURAGING INTERACTIVE METHODOLOGIES TO STRENGTHEN RAPPORT WITH STUDENTS, SUPPORTING PEER NETWORKS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, AND PROVIDING CLASSROOMS WITH TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS. OVER THE LONG TERM, OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE PRIMARY STUDENT LITERACY SCORES ACROSS ALL OF OUR REGIONS. THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF OUR TEACHER SUPPORT PROGRAM ARE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. BY THE END OF 2024, WE HAD SUPPORTED 5,012 TEACHERS ACROSS LAOS, GUATEMALA, AND GHANA.

Expenses $674,966
OUR THIRD CORE PROGRAM IS THE WASH PROGRAM, WHICH FOCUSES ON WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE. WASH IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INITIATIVE ADOPTED BY UNICEF IN 2005 TO ADDRESS HYGIENE NEEDS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD. WE BEGAN IMPLEMENTING WASH PRACTICES IN LAOS IN 2010 AND HAVE SINCE EXPANDED TO GUATEMALA AND GHANA. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE BUILD SANITATION FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERSSUCH AS HANDWASHING STATIONS AND BATHROOMSALONGSIDE NEW CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION. OUR STAFF ALSO VISIT CLASSROOMS TWICE PER MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO TEACH LESSONS ON WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE. THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE WASH PROGRAM ARE TO ENSURE ACCESS TO SAFE TOILETS, POTABLE WATER, AND RELIABLE HANDWASHING STATIONS IN SCHOOLS LACKING THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE ALSO INCREASING PROPER HYGIENIC AND SANITARY BEHAVIOR AMONG PRIMARY STUDENTS. BY THE END OF 2024, WE HAD SUPPORTED1,277 SCHOOLS WITH WASH PROGRAMMING.

Expenses $330,531

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

ADAM BRAUN

CHAIR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
ROBERT HAMWEE

TREASURER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
LESLIE ENGLE

SECRETARY

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
COURTNEY BEALE

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
GABRIEL BOURGEOIS

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
PHITSAMAY S UY

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
ASTRID WOMBLE

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
GARY VAYNERCHUK

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
TAMMY FARLEY

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
JASON HODES

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
EMILY BONFIGLIO

MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
KAILEE SCALES

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Total calculated

$283,118

From this org

$253,562

From related orgs

$0

Other

$29,556

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$253,562

Bonus

$0

Other

$0

Deferred

$0

Nontaxable benefits

$29,556

Filer's total

$283,118
JULIE BAKER

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Total calculated

$193,256

From this org

$173,944

From related orgs

$0

Other

$19,312

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$173,944

Bonus

$0

Other

$0

Deferred

$1,968

Nontaxable benefits

$17,344

Filer's total

$193,256
BRADLEY WISDOM

CHIEF GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT O

Total calculated

$146,417

From this org

$126,174

From related orgs

$0

Other

$20,243

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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

3 · Compensation committee
3 · Form 990 of other organizations
3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
7 · Other non-fixed payments
8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2024
Filed: 22 October 2025
IRS schema version: 2024v5.2
Source object: 202532959349301538

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