The Pulsera Project

“Each officer reviews the form 990 individually, then comments or asks questions prior to filing.”

“The 990 is prepared by an independent accounting firm.”

“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.”

“Governing documents and the conflict of interest policy are available upon request.”

“In 2022 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 post-covid update 2022 was a turning point for the pulsera project after two years of the covid-19 pandemic affecting almost every aspect of the project, the veil began to lift and a new post-covid project began to take shape. The last year was a pivotal one for the project, representing new and unprecedented investments in all components of the project. For the first time, we are employing over 200 artisans, we added over a dozen new videos and lessons to the educational program, and we forged partnerships with some incredible new organizations in the u.s. And central america. We want to humbly thank the thousands of teachers, students, and volunteers who helped to secure a future for the project when things looked darkest. The outpouring of support we received over the last few years truly was the essential key that kept the pulsera project ship sailing through the murky waters of covid. We cannot stress enough how much that support meant to each of us and the volunteers who work for the project. 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. In 2022, we were fortunate to work with 405 schools in the spring semester, and 287 schools in the fall, representing a total of 692 pulsera sales, each one a labor of love brought to life by the enthusiasm and hard work of the classes, clubs, and school communities that dedicate their time to the project. This was a significant and meaningful bounce back for us, after partnering with 369 schools in 2021 due to the lingering effects of covid-19 on the project. In total, the pulsera project has now collaborated with 3,468 schools, and with the help of many multi-year school partnerships, 6,807 pulsera project school events have been hosted by students and teachers since 2009. New developments as schools filled back up with students, the project went through some important changes. We hired dozens of new artisans, began new social impact collaborations, and added more materials to the educational program than any year in the project's history. We also made one of the most challenging decisions in the project's history, raising the cost of pulseras to $7 and bolsitas to $15. This was the first price change since the pulsera project was founded in 2009. As inflation continued to spike in the u.s, it hit central american countries even harder, where a small increase in food or housing costs can mean making difficult decisions for one's family. In line with our fair trade values, we raised the cost we pay artisans to keep up with this new reality. Though we knew the decision was necessary to keep the project viable into the future, we also recognized the impact on students who are also affected by rising prices. The educational program saw its largest expansion in the project's history, including new bellringer activities, lessons about the new "color the world" video, and much more. We also made our educational resources public for the first time, increasing the traffic to our materials by over 300%. Meanwhile, we expanded our online conversations with classes. Any school hosting pulsera sales can now set up virtual chats with social impact coordinator jorge morales or project co-founders colin crane and chris howell. New collaborations though we had previously worked with the national spanish exam to sponsor a slot on our”

“U.s. Pulsera sales in 2022 in 2022 teachers and student volunteers raised $789,595 through pulsera sales in 692 schools, some selling for the 13th time, while we welcomed 211 schools that hosted pulsera events for the first time. We appreciate each student, teacher, and volunteer who helped along the way. From the money raised by schools, the pulsera project seeks to invest equally in our three components artisan employment, impact investment, and the u.s. Service-learning educational program. This year we made substantial investments in each, especially in the often arduous but necessary task of fostering new relationships and making new connections. In 2022 the project invested $415,276 in our employment and impact programs in central america. The $100,043 spent toward impact investments in 2022 included $80,043 in grants to support longtime project allies as well as many new emerging partnerships. Groups supported - adisa, aj quen, artexco, asogen, asomujerdi, cojolya, imap, la esperanza granada, raiz che, waricha. In addition, we provided a $20,000 2-year investment in the media development investment fund, which supports free press initiatives worldwide, including in guatemala. Adelante in 2023 as we look towards 2023, we are filled with profound humility and gratitude to every teacher, student, and volunteer who contributed to the project over the last year. We 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 network of artisans, students, teachers, activists, and volunteers that has brought people together across borders, cultural divides, and thousands of miles. This was proven especially true in 2022, as we worked to stitch the project back together in a new and improved form. Our dreams for the future remain large despite the setbacks we hope to develop closer relationships with our over 200 artists in the coming year, continue our teacher trips, and collaborate more, always working towards the brighter and more just world that we all strive to be a part of. The last few years rocked the project to its foundations, and despite the losses, it also gave us the opportunity to examine those foundations and ensure they are strong, stable, and ready to weather whatever the future holds. We're grateful to the thousands who have helped start building back, and are eager to work with new partners and allies in the years ahead. To quote patrik mucia from imap (one of our partner organizations), "we have planted the seeds and are starting to see the first fruits of those seeds, so why not plant more? Why not grow more?" we cannot wait to keep growing, learning, and planting new seeds together as we move into the future. A final note a more in-depth overview of our 2022 program accomplishments can be found as part of our annual year-end review at https://www.pulseraproject.org/yearendreview2022”