2024-09-04T16:50:34-07:00 2023-12-31 990EZ 2023-01-01 882282231 UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE UNDE 8086390188 PO Box 788 Hanalei HI 96714 Sari Pastore Founder 8086390188 2024-09-04 1 2023 2024-08-08 14:25:15Z X X https://www.understoryalliance.org X X 7075 X 1265 5810 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7075 0 0 0 0 0 0 2945 2945 4130 100 0 4230 100 4230 0 0 0 0 100 4230 0 0 100 4230 The purpose of the organization is the following: To cultivate a resilient planet and people by strengthening the interconnection of all humans with the natural world. Understory Alliance is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. In 2023, Understory Alliance made significant strides in promoting environmental sustainability, community engagement, and the establishment of Mala La'au forest gardens. A key highlight of the year was the Earth Day planting of the KAEF Mala La'au, a new forest garden at the Kauai Animal Education Farm. This project marked a significant milestone in the organization's efforts to create sustainable green spaces that support both biodiversity and community well-being. Additionally, Understory Alliance launched a new nursery to support the propagation of native Hawaiian plants and other culturally significant species. This nursery provides essential plant materials for the Mala La'au gardens and serves as a resource for the community, offering educational opportunities and supporting local conservation efforts. In 2023, Understory Alliance also initiated its internship program, which provides hands-on learning experiences for students and community members. This program offers participants the chance to engage directly with the organization's projects and gain valuable skills in sustainable agriculture, native plant care, and environmental stewardship. Throughout the year, the organization continued to emphasize community engagement and education. Through more workshops, new educational materials, and expanded outreach initiatives, Understory Alliance empowered individuals to actively participate in the care, maintenance, and growth of the Mala La'au forest gardens. This year, the program fostered a deeper sense of ownership and stewardship within communities, allowing participants to gain valuable knowledge and skills in sustainable practices and environmental conservation. The organization also made substantial strides in promoting food security and biodiversity. By integrating additional non-invasive food trees into the Mala La'au forest gardens, Understory Alliance contributed to local food production and improved access to nutritious and culturally significant food sources. The dedication to preserving native plant species and incorporating culturally relevant plants remained a cornerstone of the organization's efforts, helping to safeguard biodiversity while honoring the rich heritage and traditions of the communities served. Overall, Understory Alliance's program services in 2023 successfully expanded the impact of sustainability, community empowerment, food security, and biodiversity conservation through establishing and growing Mala La'au forest gardens, creating a new nursery, and launching an impactful internship program. These accomplishments highlight the organization's ongoing commitment to creating positive environmental and social impacts, deepening the connection between people and nature, and fostering resilient communities. 0 2658 1. KAEF Nursery and Education & Outreach: Description: Understory Alliance provided educational workshops and outreach programs focusing on native Hawaiian plant propagation and biocultural conservation. The organization also created a small plant nursery, helping to grow and distribute native plants. Expenses: $375 (Expenses for supplies and materials related to these programs) 2. RSBA and KCFCU: Description: Through partnerships with RSBA and KCFCU, Understory Alliance provided mission-aligned services, including consultations and support for urban biocultural conservation projects. Expenses: $2,283 (Supplies and materials for these program services) 0 2658 5316 Megan McCullough President 0.25 0 0 0 Chelsey Contrades Vice President 0.25 0 0 0 Johanna Ventura Treasurer 1 0 0 0 Morgan Luongo Secretary 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 HI Sari Pastore PO Box 788 Hanalei HI 96714 8086390188 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NONE NONE 1 X 100 4131 4231 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 4131 4231 4231 4231 X Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 16 Bank & Payment Fees: $8 Costs associated with bank transactions and payment processing fees. Government Licenses and Fees: $29 Expenses related to obtaining and renewing required licenses and paying government fees. Supplies & Materials: $2,909 Costs for purchasing various supplies and materials necessary for the organization's operations, including program-related activities and general administrative needs. Total Other Expenses: $2,945 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing on behalf of Understory Alliance to respectfully request a waiver of penalties for the late filing of our Form 990-EZ for the tax year ending 2023. Our organization experienced extreme staffing shortages this year, significantly impacting our ability to manage all the tasks required to run our nonprofit efficiently. As the Executive Director, I wear many hats and find myself juggling too many responsibilities at once. Despite my best efforts to stay on top of our filing obligations, the demands of our daily operations and the urgent needs of our programs, unfortunately, led to the delay in submitting this important document. As soon as we realized the filing was overdue, we immediately took steps to complete and submit our Form 990-EZ. Moving forward, we are implementing new procedures and seeking additional support to ensure we promptly meet all future deadlines. We sincerely apologize for this oversight and the inconvenience it may cause. We are committed to improving our processes and ensuring compliance with all IRS requirements. We humbly ask for your understanding and request that any penalties associated with this late filing be waived. Thank you for your kind consideration. Sincerely, Sari Pastore