2025-12-16T23:21:10-05:00 2024-12-31 990 2024-01-01 271413388 So Others May Learn SOOT 6122964206 5137 QUEEN AVE S Minneapolis MN 554102256 Kristina Chien Executive Director 6122964206 2025-12-18 false 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Kristina Chien 5137 QUEEN AVE S Minneapolis MN 554102256 307801 false X soothersmaylearn.org X 2011 MN So Others May Learn a 501-C3 nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing academic scholarships to deserving students in Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe and support the communities in which these students learn and live. These scholarships are specifically targeted at students in rural areas who lack the financial resources to pursue their education. In addition to financial support the organization also ensures ongoing monitoring of academic progress and offers additional assistance such as healthcare and infrastructure improvements for the communities where these students reside. Through these efforts So Others May Learn aims to empower underserved students in their communities by breaking down barriers to education and fostering sustainable development. 5 5 0 20 0 0 305132 0 0 117 305249 233950 0 0 0 0 29032 262982 42267 74483 0 74483 X So Others May Learn a 501-C3 nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing academic scholarships to deserving students in Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe and support the communities in which these students learn and live. These scholarships are specifically targeted at students in rural areas who lack the financial resources to pursue their education. In addition to financial support the organization also ensures ongoing monitoring of academic progress and offers additional assistance such as healthcare and infrastructure improvements for the communities where these students reside. Through these efforts So Others May Learn aims to empower underserved students in their communities by breaking down barriers to education and fostering sustainable development. false false 92502 92502 0 So Others May Learn believes that students thrive when their communities thrive and they can focus on their education when they dont have to worry that their families friends or leaders are struggling. Every year the communities in which our students learn and live submit funding proposals for infrastructure projects that will benefit their community. We evaluate these projects based on their direct impact they will have on our students and families they connection to education and input from our community advisory boards. In order for So Others May Learn to fund a project the community must partner fiscally or through labor investment period weve vetted 13 community proposals this year and selected 4 for sponsorship: 2 medical clinics supports in Kapane and Ngamo villages a tree nursery and Ziga village that is part of the primary school curriculum and an eco- club project for three primary schools where we have students. In addition in quarter three and four we selected the building of classroom blocks at the Lupinyu primary school in Zimbabwe we created a borehole for Lupani secondary school and we helped to fund agricultural equipment for a community farm that serves our Ziga and Ngamo scholars. These projects are ongoing into fiscal year 25 but the commitment to the communities and tangible impact for our students is already present. 85256 61546 0 In 2024 so others may learn granted it 4 secondary schools scholarships and three universities scholarships to students in Zambia and eight secondary schools scholarships to students in Zimbabwe. As per above come with our Ugandan scholarship program covering tuition transportation fees healthcare food and other essential expenses is a key component of these comprehensive scholarships. By offering the support we aim to enable our students to concentrate on their education without worrying about their financial burdens. At the end of fiscal year 24 we committed to taking on an additional 12 students after our site visits in November and December of 2024. 46761 46261 0 In 2024 so others may learn granted 19 Ugandan scholars with scholarships: 4 at the primary level 6 at the secondary level and 9:00 at the university level. These scholarships are extensive covering tuition transportation fees healthcare food and other essential expenses. By offering this comprehensive support we aim to enable our students to concentrate on their education without worrying about financial burdens. 38072 33641 0 In 2024 So Others May Learn continued sponsoring Brandon Ariho a Ugandan scholarship student supported by SOML since 3rd grade. He was granted a partial scholarship to the University of Vermont in 2023. Brandon is our first scholarship student in the U.S. We cover his university tuition flights home and all necessary expenses for his education in the United States. 0 0 0 On completion of a scholarship for starters many learned students are asked to pay it forward either through tangible on the ground work with the communities in which they live and learn or by financially sponsoring a student in their community. As part of our pay for our program we also assist our alumni with mentorship and advisor roles for our current students. 38072 33641 0 262591 true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true true false true false false false false false true false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 0 false false false false false false false false X 5 5 true false false false false false false true true false false true false true true false false false MN X Peter Tester 6122964206 5137 QUEEN AVE S Minneapolis MN 554102256 X Kristina Chien Executive Director 40.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Mary Goetz Board member 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Peter Tester Board Chair 4.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Elise Szwajkowski board member at large 5.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Caroline Ferguson board secretary 4.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Hutton Phillips Board member and future chair 10.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Cynthia Nidewini Zim and Zam program coordinator 20.00 20.00 X 0 0 0 Lwanga Muzaifa Uganda program coordinator 20.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 false false false 3880 0 0 0 0 301252 0 305132 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2669 0 2552 117 0 117 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 305249 0 0 117 0 0 33641 33641 200309 200309 0 0 0 0 1280 990 290 0 101 0 101 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24977 24977 0 0 0 0 0 0 2674 2674 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 262982 262591 391 0 32216 74483 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 0 0 0 0 0 32216 74483 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 32216 74483 0 0 32216 74483 32216 74483 42267 0 0 0 0 0 X false false false X 0 0 0 0 43132 43132 0 0 0 0 43132 43132 43132 0 0 0 0 43132 43132 1 0 0 0 X Part I We are both the 33 1 3 exemption and an organization that normally receives a substantial part of support form the general Public Part III - Line 1, Unusual Grant Lists | Name of the Contributor:, Date of Grant:, Year:, Amount:, Description:| Donor, 03 04 2025, "2024", $262000, In 2024 So Others May Learn was offered a generous donation from the Ferguson family. The family offered to match our donations on a 3:1 basis approximately every quarter up to $3 million over the course of five years or until we reach the maximum donation amount whichever comes first. This is a very unusual gift and one allowed us to support more scholarship students and community infrastructure projects that we could not otherwise take on in 2024.| RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED true Sub-Saharan Africa 0 3 Grantmaking 200000 0 3 0 0 0 3 200000 0 200000 scholarship fees and expenses for SOML Zambia students and communities March 2024 including kapane and ngamo clinic medications and lupinyu school Sub-Saharan Africa 12 29582 wire transfer scholarship fees and expenses for SOML Zambia students and communities Jan 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa 20 13580 wire transfer scholarship fees for Ugandan students and communities May 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa 15 7800 wire transfer infrastructure projects for Kapane Ziga clinics and borehole for Ziga Sub-Saharan Africa 3 27920 wire transfer funds for SOML Uganda scholars July 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa 11 9500 wire transfer scholarships fees for SOML Uganda students September 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa 12 7000 wire transfer August 2024 through November 2024 Zambia students and communities grants Sub-Saharan Africa 14 30000 wire transfer community infrastructure projects in Kapane Ziga Lupinyu and Lupani Sub-Saharan Africa 4 35000 wire transfer infrastructure projects for Ziga and Ngamo primary students Dec 2024 installment 1 of 2 Sub-Saharan Africa 10 10000 wire transfer false false false false false false Part I Line 2 For scholarships academic eligibility requirement all scholars maintain in order to keep the scholarship. Our program coordinators update students and ED on whether a student is maintaining academic eligibility and if they are not they are placed on probation for 1-2 terms and offered academic support. In addition a formal inquiry is made into conditions surrounding the decline in performance. For infrastructure grants termly reports and site visits are conducted. Part I, line 3f | ExplanationTxt:| wire transfers| Part III, line 1 | ExplanationTxt:| wire transfer direct to Children in the Wilderness partner organization on the ground| scholarship fees and expenses for SOML Zambia students January 2024 sent to Children in the Wilderness CITW for distribution on the ground| funds sent to Uganda program coordinator Lwanga Muzaifa| funds sent to CITW for disbursement for itemized infrastructure projects| funds for uganda scholars sent through program coordinator Lwanga Muzaifa| funds for SOML uganda scholars sent to program coordinator| funds for SOML Zambia and Zimbabwe scholars sent through CITW for disbursement on the ground| itemized requests made by CITW and program coordinator| funds sent to CITW for direct disbursement on the ground| Part III, Column(c) | ExplanationTxt:| scholarship students in the area and key stakeholders who would carry out infrastructure projects| itemized requests for scholars and infrastructure projects made from program coordinator| itemized requests from program coordinator| project leads for Kapane Ziga clinic and Ziga borehole| program coordinator submissions for Uganda scholars| itemized request for specific Uganda scholars| itemized request from program coordinator| number of project leads| itemized request made from program coordinator| true scholarship funds for SOML student Brandon Ariho for University of Vermont 1 32295 0 Part I Line 2 We allocate our scholarship funds and infrastructure funds through grant mechanism. Program coordinators in -country will submit itemized requests as funding is needed for scholars or for infrastructure projects. If request is for a scholarship student funds are sent without review. If fund request is for an infrastructure project we review and select infrastructure projects based on need alignment with our organizations mission and anticipate direct impact to our scholars community Part III Column (b) | Type of grant or assistance:, Number of recipients:, How number of recipients was estimated?:| scholarship funds for SOML student Brandon Ariho for University of Vermont, 1, one recipient| Lwanga Muzaifa see uganda program coordinator note in compensation 6500 grant for continuing education continuing education for masters degree Part VI, Line 2 | Employee:, Relationship:, Employee:| Kristina Chien, Family Relationship, Peter Tester| Part VI, Section B, Line 11b review period for board of directors occurs for 1 week prior to filing of Form 990. Please note: the executive director is NOT paid there is no paid position or salary within the organization Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Yes we have made them available upon request to any donor and per state Attorney Generals office Part VII, List Of Officers | Employee Name:, Description:| Cynthia Nidewini, our coordinator for Zimbabwe and Zambia opted out of payment as she is paid by Children in the Wilderness who is our partner organization on the ground in Zimbabwe and Zambia. As shown in our annual report we will have program coordinator who are past SOMl scholars joining our Zimbabwe and Zambia team in 2025| Lwanga Muzaifa, Lwanga Muzaifa receives a grant for his education in lieu of a salary. This is a voluntary position as our coordinators have other jobs but we recognized the incredible efforts they do in country to make the work of SOML happen and in keeping with our mission statement provide grants for their continuing education| Our executive director was on maternity leave through October of 2025 and we were short-staffed to fill out the return as we converted from the 990 EZ to 990 based on our income. We had filled out the 990 EZ but at the end were told it needed to be converted to a 990 which is what resulted in the late return.