2026-03-16T04:36:19Z 2025-01-31 990EZ 2024-02-01 824537269 IGNITE ARTS & STEM INC IGNI 8188636035 5609 Yolanda Avenue 571255 Tarzana CA 91357 Crystal Jones President 8188636035 2026-03-16 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X https://igniteartsandstem.org X X 96211 X 96211 0 96211 9039 98673 107712 -11501 31647 3887 24033 31647 23446 31647 23446 31647 23446 Ignite Arts & STEM empowers underrepresented BIPOC youth in Greater Los Angeles by providing equitable access to arts education, STEM mentorship, scholarships, and professional development opportunities that remove financial and systemic barriers to academic and career success. Through our comprehensive programsincluding art mentoring and exhibitions, STEM professional development, scholarship awards, and community resource fairswe invest in the next generation of diverse leaders, innovators, and creatives. Our mission is to ignite pathways to higher education and career advancement by connecting talented youth with mentors, resources, and opportunities that cultivate their artistic and technical skills, build confidence, and foster long-term economic mobility. We serve students who face disproportionate barriers to accessing quality arts and STEM programming, ensuring that talent and potentialnot zip code or economic circumstancedetermine opportunity. Ignite Arts & STEM provides financial assistance to underrepresented BIPOC youth pursuing higher education in arts and STEM fields. In 2024, we awarded scholarships to deserving students, reducing financial barriers to postsecondary education. 0 13361 Our signature Igniting Ideas: Emerging Artists Exhibition program provides 30 BIPOC youth with professional art mentorship, exhibition opportunities, and material stipends of $600-$1,200 per participant. Students receive portfolio development, exhibition preparation, and networking opportunities with arts professionals. In 2024, we provided $62,500 in donated art supplies and technology (Meta Ray-Bans, Blick gift cards). 44537 Annual community resource fair providing 300+ families with backpacks, school supplies, food assistance, and access to health/social services. In 2024, we distributed $24,400 in donated goods (backpacks and bulk food items) to underserved families. 13361 Professional development mentoring program connecting BIPOC youth with STEM professionals. Participants receive career guidance, technical skill development, and industry exposure. The program includes stipends of up to $1,000 per participant for materials and professional development activities. 17814 89073 James Milborne Secretary 0.00 0 0 0 Debra Hess-Wakeland Board Member 0.00 0 0 0 Crystal Jones President 10.00 0 0 0 Kimberly Pierce Board Member 0.00 0 0 0 Pia Williams Vice President 0.00 0 0 0 false false false false false 0 false false false CA Debra Hess-Wakeland 5609 Yolanda Avenue 571255 Tarzana CA 91357 8188636035 false false false false false false false false false NONE 0 NONE 0 true X 0 0 0 0 4441 10437 50676 96210 161764 0 4441 10437 50676 96210 161764 0 0 0 161764 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4441 10437 50676 96210 161764 X 1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Part I, Line 16 Other Expenses ($98,673.05): Program Expenses: $89,074.35 Management & General Expenses: $7,571.64 Fundraising Expenses: $2,027.06 See Part IX - Statement of Functional Expenses for detail. Part I, Line 20 Prior period adjustment of $3,887.42 to reconcile 2023 Form 990 ending net assets ($35,534.00) with QuickBooks 2024 beginning balance ($31,646.58). Correction of prior year bookkeeper error discovered during 2024 reconciliation. Ignite Arts & STEM experienced administrative transitions and accounting system complexities that prevented timely filing of the 2024 Form 990/990-EZ. Specific circumstances contributing to the delay: - Bookkeeping Transition: Our organization experienced a change in bookkeeping personnel in late 2024. The departing bookkeeper left incomplete records and unreconciled accounts, requiring extensive cleanup and reconciliation work before accurate financial statements could be prepared. - Chart of Accounts Reclassification: To achieve proper FASB ASC 958 compliance for functional expense reporting (Program Services, Management & General, and Fundraising), we undertook a comprehensive reclassification of our chart of accounts. This required reviewing and recategorizing transactions throughout 2024, which was more time-intensive than anticipated. - In-Kind Donation Documentation: Our organization received significant in-kind contributions totaling $77,101.94 in 2024. Properly documenting, valuing, and categorizing these contributions according to IRS requirements required additional time and verification with donors. - Limited Administrative Capacity: As a small, volunteer-led nonprofit with no paid staff, our board members and volunteers have limited time to dedicate to administrative functions. The complexity of the financial cleanup work exceeded our available volunteer capacity during the normal filing period. - Good Faith Effort: Throughout this period, the organization has operated in good faith, maintaining its books and records to the best of its ability. We have now completed all necessary reconciliations and account reclassifications to ensure accurate and compliant reporting. Corrective Actions Taken: - Completed full reconciliation of all bank accounts for 2024 - Implemented new chart of accounts aligned with FASB functional expense categories - Documented all in-kind contributions with proper valuation - Established improved internal controls and recordkeeping procedures going forward - Installed a new Treasurer to strengthen financial oversight and governance The organization respectfully requests that this late filing be accepted without penalty, as the delay was due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control and we have acted diligently to resolve all issues and file as soon as practically possible. Submitted by: Crystal Jones, Board President Ignite Arts & STEM