2024-11-13T14:59:59-07:00 2023-12-31 841104789 Hug It Forward Inc R Scott Burrows CPA 8177 S Lamar Ct Littleton CO 80128 990 2023-01-01 270909586 HUG IT FORWARD INC HUGI 8588882626 8177 S Lamar Court Littleton CO 80128 Zach Balle President 8588882626 2024-11-15 1 1 Richard Burrows P01056096 3039727200 2024-11-15 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z Zach Balle 8177 S Lamar Ct Littleton CO 80127 207511 0 X www.hugitforward.org X 2009 WY Hug It Forward (HIF) is a multicultural organization operating at the grassroots level in Latin America, with an emphasis in Guatemala. In fiscal year 2023, HIF completed 6 schools and an additional 2 schools were in the process of completion. As of December 2023, HIF has completed 143 schools. 3 3 0 162 0 0 99036 207511 0 0 0 0 0 0 99036 207511 137909 117330 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 49372 55736 187281 173066 -88245 34445 235387 270275 0 443 235387 269832 Hug It Forward is an organization that empowers communities in developing countries to build schools. Entire communities come together to make the dream of educational opportunity a reality, by using Hug It Forward's funding and expertise to build their own school. 0 0 142745 0 0 BOTTLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. In 2023, Hug It Forward facilitated the construction of 8 schools in Guatemala; 6 schools completed and 2 schools in process. Due to the method of construction, these schools are known as "bottle schools". Bottle schools are schools built using post-and-beam construction, with concrete columns and beams reinforced with rebar. The walls are filled with "eco-bricks" as insulation, made from plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash, which comes from their immediate environment. Entire communities come together to build a more sustainable educational infrastructure that replaces dilapidated, unsafe, and dangerously overcrowded schoolrooms, which are often made from adobe, corrugated metal, or cornstalks, with dirt floors. Before Hug It Forward issues any funding for materials, the community must show commitment to the project by creating approximately 75% of the bottles that are required for the school. A total of 7,500 eco-bricks are required for a 2-classroom school and 10,000 bottles for a 3-classroom school. Teachers and community leaders are responsible for organizing the process of bottle collection and overseeing the volunteering of labor. The local municipality contributes by paying for skilled labor, and the Ministry of Education pays for all teachers, ensuring that these institutions also have ownership in a sustainable project. 11633 0 0 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. In conjunction with bottle school projects, Hug It Forward facilitates an environmental education program for youth, working with communities that participate in a bottle school project. The program directly impacted 1,660 students in 3 communities in 2023. Children work with the community to plant trees and collect inorganic trash and create the "eco-bricks" that are needed to build a bottle school. They build their school with their own hands, giving them real ownership and pride in the realization of the project. Environmental education is an essential part of the bottle school process, ensuring that the project's impact will be sustainable and that communities remain free of trash long into the future. Through the environmental education program, children learn to understand the difference between organic and inorganic trash, along with the major risks of plastic pollution in their environment and in the world. The intention is to leave a lasting impact, helping to grow awareness of environmental sustainability for future generations. 0 0 0 154378 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 X X Richard Burrows 3039727200 8177 So Lamar Court Littleton CO 80128 Dave Watson Chairman of the Board 5 X 0 0 0 Zach Balle President 30 X X 0 0 0 Adam Flores Secretary/Treasurer 30 X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 207511 0 207511 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 207511 0 0 0 117330 117330 3525 3525 6100 6100 834 834 408 408 3011 3011 4810 4810 Construction & Foreman Labor-Guatemala 10891 10891 0 0 Administrative Labor-Guatemala 12724 12724 0 0 Environmenatal Services Labor-Guatemala 11633 11633 0 0 Staff Expenses-Guatemala 1800 1800 0 0 173066 154378 18688 0 235387 270275 0 0 235387 270275 0 443 0 443 X 22535 7513 212852 262319 235387 269832 235387 270275 34445 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 X 114523 60589 226152 99037 108474 608775 114523 60589 226152 99037 108474 608775 30650 578125 608775 0.94965 1 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 Central America and the Caribbean 1 4 Program Services Sch F, Stmt 1 117330 1 4 117330 Central America and the Caribbean Construction of School Buildings-See also supplemental information 117330 Electronic Disbursement 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schedule F, Part I, Line 2 As a U.S. based non-profit, Hug It Forward (HIF) partnered in third quarter 2022 with Asociación Lectoescritura Para El Aprendizaje Significativo (LEAS), a Guatemalan non-profit entity. HIF utilizes the LEAS partnership to enhance transparency, accountability and provide on-the-ground checks and balances for the receiving, documenting, and accounting of all bottle classroom project related material expenses. As project facilitators, we have a responsibility to our donors and communities we work with to ensure that we are doing everything within our control to achieve the most amount of positive impact with each dollar donated. Each bottle classroom project is a joint effort among the local community, the local municipality, LEAS, and HIF. Schedule F, Part I, Line 3 Below is an outline of a bottle classroom project cycle and the commitments that each stakeholder is responsible for: The local community members sign a pre-construction community agreement with LEAS in which they commit to the following: * Fill out and turn in a school application to LEAS, HIF's in-country project executor * Provide the unskilled labor necessary to be able to complete the bottle classroom construction * Prepare the bottle classroom construction site by leveling the land up to an agreed height * Provide the sufficient amount of wood necessary to be able to properly complete the construction of new bottle classrooms * Build a retaining wall to protect the future bottle classroom structure if necessary * Provide and prepare meals for the municipal mason worker team throughout the duration of the bottle classroom construction * Provide adequate shelter for the municipal mason workers throughout the duration of the bottle classroom construction * Provide the municipal mason workers access to water throughout the duration of the bottle classroom construction * Receive volunteer groups with open arms * Commit to taking down any previous standing classrooms that are no longer deemed safe or ensure that classes will no longer be held within such insecure structures Simultaneously, the local municipality signs a 'municipal agreement' with LEAS in which they commit to the following: * Provide skilled labor in the form of one mason worker per bottle classroom to be constructed until construction of the bottle classrooms are completed Upon the signing of the pre-construction community agreement and the 'municipal agreement', LEAS then must meet HIF's understanding of 'need' which has been defined above as having the desired minimum ratios of students and teachers to justify the releasing of funding. Once the minimum ratios are met, LEAS commits to providing HIF with the following documents to show that the local community and municipality have pledged their support: * A complete signed and scanned proposal document * Project pictures for visual aids to build site context * A scanned PDF of the original school application * A scanned PDF of the signed pre-construction community agreement * A scanned PDF of the signed municipal agreement * A detailed budget outlining any extras unique to the project (i.e., more sand, concrete, etc.) Upon receiving these documents from LEAS, HIF will then review them and discuss whether the proposed bottle classroom project will receive funding. If a unanimous decision can not be reached, a two-thirds agreement among the Board of Directors is sufficient to approve funding for a proposed bottle classroom project. Upon bottle classroom project approval, LEAS will receive the appropriate amount of funds to begin construction, and at that time, a groundbreaking ceremony with local community members and municipal representatives will take place. As the construction of the bottle classroom project continues, money will continue to be transferred to LEAS only after photos of the project are shared with the Board of Directors. During the construction process, both U.S. based and Guatemala based accountants are utilized to ensure the monitoring, and correct use of, funds that have been granted to LEAS. This is accomplished via the following monthly process: * Detailed receipts for all construction expenses are submitted to each accountant * Copy of the check that matches the receipt is submitted to each accountant * Bank statements are submitted to each accountant * The Guatemala based accountant issues the required monthly expense report to the Guatemalan Government, which details how much money was transferred each month and how much money was spent * The U.S. based accountant issues a monthly financial report to the Board of Directors to review In addition to the monthly process above, the Guatemala based accountant will also issue the required Donation Receipt to the Guatemalan Government every time a donation to LEAS is made. This accountant will also submit the required annual report to the Guatemalan Government, showing the total amount expensed and transferred, as well as how much money remains in the account for the year. Once the construction of the bottle classroom project is finished, the community will be asked again by LEAS to sign a 'post-construction community agreement' to ensure the following: * Maintain the bottle classrooms post-inauguration via weekly cleanings * Invest in maintenance costs that should arise in normal upkeep of the bottle classrooms * Maintain strong lines of communication with LEAS regarding any structural deficiencies or concerns * Support all future impact monitoring initiatives from LEAS that may include filling out surveys, taking part in focus groups, interviews, filling out of simple questionnaires, scanning documents, and even sharing photos via email Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 2 Zach Balle and Adam Flores work together part-time in a travel business known as Serve the World Today, LLC Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 6 The officers listed in Part VII herein are also the members of the organization Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7a The Members of the organization have exclusive authority to appoint additional members, officers, or directors of the organization by a simple majority vote. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Hug it Forward's Board of Directors have been involved with the preparation of Form 990 and its Schedules from the beginning of the process. Drafts of the Form and its Schedules have been circulated to all Directors and discussed by all Directors at Board meetings. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Hug it Forward officers and directors work closely throughout the year and consistently monitor compliance with policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 These documents are available to the public upon request.