2016 ANNUAL REPORT
AKOLA (v): She w orks
LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER AND CEO
Dear Friends of Akola: Due to the complexity of social issues we face today, there is a need for innovative organizations to emerge and find unique ways to address to the world’s most difficult problems. In our 2016 Annual Report, you will find that Akola has taken this challenge head on, designing a model that dynamically and creatively addresses social problems by cutting across traditional boundaries that separate nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses. 2016 was a ground-breaking year. After 10 years of building Akola’s model in Uganda, we officially transitioned from a pilot program to full capacity in Dallas. Appearing nationally in every Neiman Marcus store allowed Akola to change lives of families by providing work opportunity at a living wage to over 100 women in Dallas, TX and more than 400 women in Eastern Uganda. With our launch, Akola became the first full impact nonprofit brand to retail in the luxury space. Akola’s comprehensive model empowers woman economically and socially to take ownership of their own development, and ultimately, change their view of themselves, unlocking their true identity as agents of transformation. Rather than giving out sponsorship dollars, Akola takes a holistic approach to empowerment by providing programs ranging from financial literacy to health and wellness trainings. With your support in 2016, Akola helped over 500 women in Uganda and Dallas move beyond survival to become agents of transformation in their families and communities. I believe that it is vital for new movements and ideas to emerge that address the world’s most difficult challenges. Social innovation is at the praxis of Akola’s development methodology. My vision for leading Akola is to create sustainable, system-changing solutions that truly lead to long-term social change. What’s next for Akola is even more exciting as we continue to partner, expand and increase our impact across Dallas and Uganda. Thank you for your support, encouragement and advocacy. You have helped us break new ground, pioneer new pathways and reconfigure solutions to problems in our own community and around the world.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RYAN BRICKER Design Director, HNTB Founder, R E Bricker Studio LLC CONNIE COPLEY, SECRETARY Community Advocate RON GODDARD, TREASURER Retired Senior Vice President, Neiman Marcus KIP TINDELL, CO-CHAIR Chairman & Founder, The Container Store BRITTANY UNDERWOOD Founder & CEO, Akola CHARITY WALLACE, CO-CHAIR CEO, Wallace Global Impact
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Blessings, BRITTANY UNDERWOOD Founder & CEO VINCENT CHIN Chief Administrative Officer ERICA HALL Chief Economic Development Officer
D E S I G N I N G H E R S T O R Y: In 2016, Akola helped design a story for 509 women in Uganda and Dallas through economic empowerment and social programming. UGANDA | DALLAS
THEORY OF CHANGE STEP 1: ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT In an effort to ensure that women have the ability to meet their basic needs and those of their children, Akola offers vocational training, dependable work opportunity, and financial inclusion
STEP 2: RESTORATION OF HOPE Women facilitate peer-led programs such as peer support groups, wellness trainings and monthly forums. As a result, women have support in times of crisis and their voices are heard and valued.
STEP 3: AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION Through goal setting and educational programs, women have the ability to implement desired change in their families and community. Akola women are starting businesses, running for local office, opening schools and educating their communities.
I M PAC T M A P
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE Akola invests in the necessary community infrastructure for COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE economic development 3 C E N T E R S / 2 3 W AT E R W E L L S
VOCATIONAL TRAINING V O C AT I O N A L T R A I N I N G
4 0 3 marketable Akola provides 400 WOMEN training to women who have had little education
L A S T I N G S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
7 MUNITIES FINANCIAL STABILITY 9 COM
Akola women have the resources and education to transform their families and communities
FA S H I O N A B L E P R O D U C T S 4 COLLECTIONS
FASHIONABLE PRODUCTS
AKOLA ACADEMY
Akola’s product demand creates work opportunity for members globally D E P E N D A B L E
6 HOLISTIC PROGRAMS
AKOLA ACADEMY EMPLOYMENT
4X UGANDA POVERTY LINE
DEPENDABLE EMPLOYMENT Akola provides dependable employment to women so they can provide for their families
Akola marries income earning opportunities with programs that ensure financial and holistic stability
A KO L A U G A N DA I N 2 0 1 6 , A K O L A I M PA C T E D Over
400
Women +
3,600
Children and Dependents
ABOUT Since 2007, Akola has worked in rural villages in Northern and Eastern Uganda with women who have survived 20 years of civil war and those who have been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Akola Uganda is fully led by the Akola Women who are empowered to be agents of transformation in their communities!
WHO WE WORK WITH
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE
Target Groups
Building the infrastructure for economic opportunity in rural villages throughout Uganda.
1) HIV/AIDS Survivors 2) Widows 3) Young Mothers 4) Elderly 5) Survivors of the 20+ Year War 6) Women who are Sole Providers of their Household 7) Women with Little to No Education
2016 PROGRAMS + SERVICES 1) Vocational Training 2) Employment Opportunities 3) Leadership and Professional Training 4) Financial Support Services 5) Business Development Programs 6) Rights-Based and Gender-Based Training 7) Counseling 8) Health and Wellness Programs 9) Social and Spiritual Support Services 10) Personal Visioning, Strategic Planning and Goal Identification 11) Peer-Leader Certification Process 12) Monitoring and Evaluation
7
Ugandan Villages
23
3
Vocational Centers
Water Wells
A KO L A DA L L A S I N 2 0 1 6 , A K O L A I M PA C T E D Over
100
Women +
300
Children and Dependents
ABOUT Since 2014, Akola Dallas has partnered with local non-profits who refer women to Akola’s vocational training and flexible work program. We offer work through the jewelry assembly program and distribution center, which serves as a second-chance job program, at a living wage of $15/hr. In 2016, Akola Dallas transitioned from a pilot program to a stage one program in Akola’s theory of change.
WHO WE WORK WITH Target Groups
Referral Organizations
Production Site Partners
1) Formerly Incarcerated 2) Immigrants 3) Survivors of Sexual Trafficking 4) Survivors of Domestic Violence 5) Women-Headed Households
1) ACT 2) Brother Bill’s Helping Hand 3) Buckner International 4) Dallas Housing Authority 5) Exodus Ministries 6) Genesis Women’s Shelter 7) Mercy Street Ministries 8) New Friends, New Life 9) Salvation Army 10) Serve West Dallas 11) West Dallas Community School
1) Buckner International 2) Dallas Housing Authority 3) Exodus Ministries
MEET THE WOMAN
A M PA I R E C H A R I T Y VILLAGE: Jinja, Uganda JOB TITLE: Ministry and Wellness Assistant (Staff Member) DATE JOINED AKOLA: February 2010 TOTAL # OF DEPENDENTS:
4 Children + 1 Adult
After working for 20 years as a housewife, Charity joined Akola as a jewelry producer in 2010. She quickly grew as a leader in Akola and soon became a production supervisor. In 2015, Charity became an Akola staff member. With her Akola salary, Charity has paid for 5 children’s school fees - her first born currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting and two of her other children are working on completing their degrees in development studies and clinical medicine. Charity now serves as the Women’s Ministry and Wellness Assistant, and organizes the village fellowship curriculum for five groups of women each month. Charity’s passion forcommunity development drove her to save her Akola salary and start a school for children in the Nabukosi village. Charity currently lives in Jinja town with her four children and husband.
Charity (left) with students and teachers at her school in Nabukosi.
MEET THE WOMAN
STEPHANIE DEAN CITY:
Dallas, Texas
JOB TITLE: Office Manager DATE JOINED AKOLA: October 2014 TOTAL # OF DEPENDENTS:
5 Children + 20 Grandchildren
When Stephanie first started working for Akola two years ago through an internship with New Friends New Life and was told that she would be learning how to use the computer for email and processing orders, she became very emotional. With a history of drug addiction, prostitution and incarceration, Stephanie had not worked in 17 years. The idea of learning these new skills like emailing customers was overwhelming. With encouragement from her supervisor, Akola’s Empowerment Programs Manager, Stephanie started learning how to type and use Gmail. Today, Stephanie runs serves as Akola’s Office Manager and oversees product quality control. Stephanie has emerged confident in the skills that she has developed and is a leader for women in the Akola Dallas jewelry assembly program. In 2016, Stephanie celebrated four years of sobriety!
A M E A S U R A B L E I M PAC T O N WO M E N A N D FA M I L I E S
WITH AKOLA INCOME, WOMEN CAN NOW MEET THE B A S I C N E E D S FOR THEIR FAMILIES. UGANDA
DALLAS
THROUGH AKOLA, WOMEN HAVE A HEALTHIER EMOTIONAL WELLBEING UGANDA
DALLAS
I M P A C T R E S U LT S
AKOLA WOMEN NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO S AV E THEIR EARNINGS BEYOND TOMORROW!
ADDITIONAL IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS: • Through Akola Academy training, women have started more than 1 0 0 B U S I N E S S E S in Uganda • Women are sending more than 1 ,70 0 C H I L D R E N to school in Uganda and Dallas! • 10% of Akola women have been promoted to a LEADERSHIP ROLE
O U R A P P ROAC H TO MEASURIN G IMPACT Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is critical in order to assess whether an organization, project or program is effective. It also gages possible limitations to success, unintended consequences, and is used to inform program improvements. Akola not only uses M&E to measure our impacts and adjust our approach to achieving our mission, but also uses M&E as a tool to achieve our mission of empowering marginalized women to become agents of transformation in their families and communities. We incorporate elements of the Participatory Learning and Action and Participatory Action Research approaches into our M&E approach to ensure that, while programs receive facilitation support from staff, the project cycle is fully managed by the community.
“I aspire to be a cheerful woman who helps others... I will own land, my own house, a business and cows.� - Arikyawa Sarah, Akola Uganda 2015
SUSTAINABLE RESULTS In 2016, Arikyawa Sarah fulfilled her goal to own a business and operates a clothing store in her local market in addition to her job as an Akola bead roller.
A K O L A J E W E L R Y: A S O C I A L E N T E R P R I S E
1 0 0 % S O C I A L LY R E I N V E S T E D As a non-profit, Akola reinvests 100% of jewelry purchases to support job opportunity, training, holistic programs, and the construction of training centers in impoverished communities around the world.
D E S I G N I N G H E R S T O RY UGANDA / DALLAS Akola jewelry is designed to empower women in disadvantaged communities throughout the globe. Akola is a full impact brand that trains and provides work opportunities for women in poverty so they can meet the basic needs of their children. At Akola, design can define a life. For every piece of jewelry that is purchased, Akola designs a new story for a woman and a family.
J E W E L RY W I T H A N I M PA C T Creating a Social Impact Throughout the Entire Supply Chain
R AW M AT E R I A L S
A S S E M B LY
DISTRIBUTION
Akola materials do no harm and,
Akola trains and employs women
Akola’s distribution center runs
at every point possible, represent a
in Dallas and Uganda who make a
as a second chance job program
life changed. Akola trains women
living wage of up to $15 an hour to
for women in Dallas who have
hand-assemble all Akola jewelry.
criminal records, giving them a
in Uganda to hand-roll paper beads and hand-carve Ankole cow horn.
chance to enter the mainstream workforce.
SOCIAL BUSINESS SNAPSHOT
A V E H I C L E F O R W O M E N I N P OV E R T Y TO E A R N A N I N CO M E Akola women use their earned income to provide for the basic needs of their family and invest in their community, creating sustainability for generations to come.
2016 TOTAL SALES
$1,528,633 National Retailers 22% 44%
Wholesales Akola Storefront
18%
eCommerce
17%
AKOLA FOR Since September of 2016, Akola is the first non-profit to launch nationally in the luxury space through Neiman Marcus. Akola retails in all 44 Neiman Marcus stores nationwide, online and in catalogs. AKOLA FLAGSHIP STORE Akola’s flagship store relocated to University Park in Dallas, TX in October of 2016 to host the jewelry collections, in-store exclusives and community events. Visit the store at 6827 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205 Monday through Saturday during the hours of 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
“It is virtually unheard of for a new brand to launch nationally through Neiman Marcus. In its very first season, Akola has become one of the Top 10 jewelry brands at Neiman Marcus, and we expect them to be in the Top 5 in 2017.” JOHN KORYL President, Neiman Marcus
IN THE NEWS
Full Page Magazine Spread on Neiman Marcus collaboration with designer, Guy Bedarida
Online Product Feature during Mother’s Day
June 2017
May 2017
“‘A storied retailer partners
“‘Jewelry label Akola is a ‘100
with a brand that won’t ever
percent full impact’ brand...”
make a dollar.”
Print and Online Feature on Akola and Neiman Marcus’ Partnership
Founder Featured as 1 of the World’s 10 Top CEOs
March 2017 “Underwood is a clear example
November 2016
of a servant leader practicing
“This fall, her line became the first
conscious capitalism to
‘full-impact’ brand—meaning every
transform the lives of women
step of production gives back in
and families”
some way—to be featured at Neiman Marcus.”
Akola for Neiman Marcus Holiday 2016 Collection
November 2016 “‘Jewelry that really makes a statement.”
Paper Drop Earrrings Worn by Amal Clooney
August 2016
IN THE NEWS In April 2017, Akola competed in a pitch competition hosted by United Way Dallas and won the grand prize of $75,000.
“What she’s accomplished is amazing … so for me, it was easy, she’s already shown she can do it. She’s shown she can get results. More capital just means more good things.” - Todd Wagner, Founder and Chairman of the Charity Network
FINANCIALS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS
Cash Accounts Receivable Inventory Prepaid Expenses Land Property and Equipment, Net
2016
2015
$635,714
$457,727
$96,050
$43,789
$348,807
$428,723
$30,433
$7,912
$4,449,849
$3,576,849
$2,881
TOTA L A S S E T S
$5,562,734
LIABILITIES
$4,515,000
2016
2015
$73,287
$32,266
$345,145
$50,000
Long-Term Debt
$1,185,161
$683,154
TOTA L L I A B I L I T I E S
$1,603,593
$765,420
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Line of Credit
NET ASSETS Unrestricted
2016 $3,959,141
Restricted
2015 $3,749,580
$-
Total Net Assets
$3,959,141
$3,749,580
TOTA L L I A B I L I T I E S A N D NET ASSETS
$5,562,734
$4,515,000
Audited Financial Statements Prepared by Howard, LLP
FINANCIALS
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES SUPPORT
2016
Contributions
$1,392,535
Net Assets Released Due to Satisfaction of Donor Restrictions TOTA L S U P P O R T
2016
Product Sales
$342,365
$-
$1,392,535
REVENUES
2015
$342,365
2015
$1,566,190
$978,168
$10
$1,321
TOTA L R E V E N U E
$1,566,200
$979,489
TOTA L S U P P O R T AND REVENUES
$2,958,735
$1,321,854
Other
O P E R AT I N G E X P E N S E S
2016
2015
Cost of Goods Sold
$901,718
$363,743
Programs Services
$883,056
$768,745
$78,102
$55,845
Development
$137,593
$75,026
General and Administration
$748,705
$228,394
Facilities and Other
Loss of Disposal of Land
$55,637
TOTA L O P E R AT I N G E X P E N S E S
$2,749,174
2016 Change in Net Assets
$1,547,390
2015
$209,561
($255,336)
Net Assets, Beginning of the Year
$3,749,580
$3,975,116
Net Assets, End of the Year
$3,959,141
$3,749,580
Audited Financial Statements Prepared by Howard, LLP
E M P O W E R T H E N E X T A KO L A W O M A N TO DAY ! • Donate To Provide Holistic Empowerment Programs • Meet The Women - Visit Akola Dallas or Uganda • Shop Online w w w. a k o l a p r o j e c t . o r g Akola Headquarters 2111 Commerce Street D a l l a s , TX 75 2 0 1 Email: development@akolaproject.org