2025-11-05T10:46:15-06:00 2024-12-31 521711839 COUNCILOR BUCHANAN & MITCHELL PC 7910 WOODMONT AVE STE 500 BETHESDA MD 20814 990 2024-01-01 873873008 CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL CREA 3012703055 321 LINCOLN AVENUE TAKOMA PARK MD 209125714 HELLEN GELBAND PRESIDENT 3012703055 2025-11-04 1 1 JOSEPH J BARRECA P00310073 3019860600 2025-11-04 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z COFA HELLEN GELBAND 321 LINCOLN AVENUE TAKOMA PARK MD 209125714 475554 0 X HTTPS://COFA-OPPORTUNITY.ORG X 2021 DC COFA MAKES GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, BOTH TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND TO UNITED STATES BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. 5 5 0 5 0 0 162952 253223 0 0 870 -1718 0 0 163822 251505 180200 231700 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3740 4350 183940 236050 -20118 15455 15910 31365 0 0 15910 31365 X COFA MAKES GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, BOTH TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND TO UNITED STATES BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. 0 0 72500 72500 0 GROWING FAMILY PROSPERITYNOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, THIS 12-MONTH AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE BASIC FARMING SUPPLIES AND GUIDANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, TO ENABLE FAMILIES TO GROW CROPS AND THEREBY PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND SELL THE SURPLUS TO PRODUCE INCOME. ALL SUPPLIES AND SALARIES FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER, A TRAINED AGRONOMIST, AND EXTENSION WORKERS ARE FUNDED BY COFA. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FIELD TRAINING FROM THE PROJECT STAFF TO GROW RICE, GROUNDNUTS, CUCUMBERS, PEPPERS, OKRA, CASSAVA, AND POTATOES. IN ADDITION, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A PAIR OF GOATS AND CHICKENS. HARVESTS AND SEED BANKING, FOR FUTURE CROPS, TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. THE FIRST TWO CLASSES OF 30 AND 25 FAMILIES COMPLETED THEIR FIRST AND SECOND YEARS AND ARE ON THE PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THEY ARE NOT BEING SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY BY COFA, BUT ARE STILL RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS FROM STAFF AND ADVICE. ALL 30 FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, PURCHASING MORE LAND TO FARM, PAYING OFF DEBTS, IMPROVING THEIR HOMES, ETC. A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROCESS CASSAVA ROOT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 3 VILLAGES, WITH COFA PROVIDING THE A MACHINE TO GRIND AND DRY THE CASSAVA. 59000 59000 0 NOURISHING YOUNG MINDS AND BODIESTHIS MONTH-LONG SCHOOL AND FEEDING PROGRAM OPERATES DURING JULY-AUGUST, WHEN FOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOWEST AND MANY PEOPLE SUBSIST ON A SINGLE MEAL EACH DAY, AND WHEN THE REGULAR SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. INITIATED IN 2020 IN FOUR SCHOOLS AND PAID FOR PRIVATELY BY COFA'S FOUNDER AND A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN, IN 2022 IT RECEIVED FOUNDATION FUNDING TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM TEACHING AND PROVIDE DAILY LUNCH IN 11 SCHOOLS IN THE LUNSAR REGION FOR MORE THAN 2,500 PRIMARY- AND SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A MONTH'S SALARY TO THE TEACHERS AND THE LOCAL WOMEN WHO PREPARE THE DAILY LUNCH. RICE IS PURCHASED FROM FARMERS WHO ARE SUPPORTED BY COFA'S GROWING FAMILY PROSPERITY.IN JULY, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED 10 JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, PROVIDING CLASSES AND LUNCH TO MORE THAN 1000 STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (BECE). IN AUGUST, MORE THAN 1000 PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 10 SCHOOLS ALSO HAD LESSONS AND LUNCH. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, 100 STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL WERE GIVEN SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT THEM FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR. 34500 34500 0 KING KAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL COFA HAS BEEN PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE KING KAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LUNSAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS A SCHOOL RUN BY PARENTS, AND TEACHERS WERE WORKING FOR NO SALARY BEFORE COFA STEPPED IN. OUR CONTRIBUTIONS PAY STIPENDS FOR ALL THE TEACHERS, LUNCH EVERY DAY FOR 200 STUDENTS AND 15 STAFF, AS WELL AS PAY FOR THE LOCAL WOMEN WHO PREPARE THE MEALS. 11000 11000 0 SCHOLARSHIPS 8000 8000 0 BACHELOR'S DEGREE FOR ADAMA SESAYCOFA BEGAN SUPPORTING ADAMA, AN ORPHAN, THROUGH HER SECONDARY EDUCATION AT EDUNATIONS SCHOOL IN ROKASSA. SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS IN 2023 AND HAS NOW COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAKENI. COFA HAS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING HER THROUGH HER DEGREE. SHE IS ALSO WORKING AT A WOMAN-OWNED BIKE SHOP SUPPORTED BY KARIM KAMARA. 7000 7000 0 MPH FOR ABDUL KAMARAABDUL KAMARA, WHO HAS WORKED WITH COFA PROJECTS SINCE THEY BEGAN, HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DESIRE TO FURTHER HIS PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION. COFA HAS FUNDED HIS STUDIES FOR A MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE AT THE FREETOWN CAMPUS OF NJALA UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM IS RUN AS AN INTENSIVE WEEKEND PROGRAM, WHEREBY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO WORK DURING THE WEEK AND COME TO FREETOWN TO STUDY SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. ABDUL COMPLETED HIS CLASSWORK IN 2024 AND WILL COMPLETE HIS THESIS IN 2025. 6500 6500 0 RESEED FUNDING RESEED IS A MICROFINANCE PROGRAM IN SIERRA LEONE. COFA PROVIDED ITS ORIGINAL FUNDING AND HAS CONTRIBUTED SINCE THEN TO INCREASE ITS CAPITALIZATION. IN 2024, COFA PROVIDED FUNDS FOR A LOAN FOR A LOCAL RESTAURANT. 6000 6000 0 SLMB BUILDINGCOFA PROVIDED FUNDS TO BUILD ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM AS THE SLMB SECONDARY SCHOOL IN MAKENI 27200 27200 0 OTHER PROGRAMS 65700 65700 0 231700 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 X HELLEN GELBAND 3012703055 321 LINCOLN AVENUE TAKOMA PARK MD 209125714 X HELLEN GELBAND PRESIDENT 5.00 X X 0 0 0 GEORGE TYLER TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MYRA GELBAND SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JUDITH WAGNER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 TEMITAYO OYEGBILE-CHIDI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 253223 224049 253223 222331 224049 -1718 -1718 -1718 251505 0 0 -1718 1500 1500 230200 230200 4200 4200 150 150 236050 231700 4350 0 15910 31365 15910 31365 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 15910 31365 15910 31365 15910 31365 15455 0 X 0 0 0 X 79529 66983 162952 253223 562687 79529 66983 162952 253223 562687 497350 65337 562687 X PART II, COLUMN (B) 2021 THE 2021 REPORTING PERIOD IS COFA'S INITIAL SHORT YEAR (11/24/2021 12/31/2021). RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 FUNDING OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS SUPPORTING LOCAL IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITES FOCUSING ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SEE LIST OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITES 230200 0 0 0 0 0 0 230200 0 230200 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES FOCUSING ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. 230200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 2: CONSTANT CONTACT WITH LOCAL PERSONS IN SIERRA LEONE WHO CONDUCT THE CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. X 1 224049 FMV 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN PART I, COLUMN (B). FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 THE CHAIR AND THE SECRETARY ARE FAMILY MEMBERS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE ORGANIZATION'S CHAIR AND TREASURER REVIEWED THE FORM 990 PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION ASKS ITS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS TO CONFIRM ADHERENCE TO THE POLICY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.