Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part IV Narrative Description of Activities
Designers4Africa (“D4A”) was founded in 2009 by jewelry designer April Star Davis with the hope of creating change and empowering the women of Sub-Saharan Africa in the goal of self-sufficiency. Since its inception, D4A has provided designers and artists the opportunity to create change through creativity. D4A inspires and enables artists, designers and private individuals the opportunity to assist the women and children of Sub-Saharan Africa in the ongoing development of healthcare, business, education and independence.
Through her volunteer work with a San Diego-based South Sudanese Refugee center which commenced in 2004, founder April Star Davis (“Davis”) became interested in providing assistance to Sub-Saharan African women and children. She started out sponsoring children in Kenya.
In mid-2009, Davis traveled to Uganda as a teacher of jewelry-making and to assist in the development of women-owned businesses. Upon her return, she formed D4A in order to provide future assistance to the women and children of Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition D4A will assist refugees from all countries in resettlement.
D4A seeks to acquire items from designers and artists with the intention of raising funds through charity auctions of donated items.
D4A intends to hold four fund raising events per year in various locations in the United States, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. It will raise money in furtherance of the organization’s goals by auctioning off donated items and soliciting donations. Funds received will go towards poverty relief in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as to aid refugees resettled in the San Diego and Southern California region.
D4A has also created community awareness of the conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa through partnerships with public relations agencies and people in the fashion and entertainment industry. Director Uwe Boll had D4A host the first North American screening of his film “DARFUR”. D4A will continue to raise awareness through its fundraisers and community outreach by the organization’s volunteers. D4A volunteers are planning a 2010 trip to Uganda to film a documentary about the region and to teach jewelry-making and business skills.
All activities of D4A are supported by unpaid volunteers
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part V, 1a (continued)
Honorary Board Members:Sammy Sheik, Uwe Boll & more to be announced
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part V, 2b
Catalyst Law Group (“Catalyst”), the law firm employing director Michiko Lindsey, has been retained as corporate counsel for Designers4Africa. Catalyst is assisting Designers4Africa with its corporate formation, 501c3 application and various other related filings. Catalyst was paid approximately $1,500 for these services.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part V, 5a Conflict of Interest Policy
DESIGNERS4AFRICA
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt organization’s (“Organization”) interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the Organization or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
1. Interested Person
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
2. Financial Interest
A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:
a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with the Organization has a transaction or arrangement,
b. A compensation arrangement with the Organization or with any entity or individual with which the Organization has a transaction or arrangement, or
c. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the Organization is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
Compensation includes direct or indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial.
A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
1. Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of the committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
a. An interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest.
b. The chairperson of the governing board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
c. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine whether the Organization can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.
d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in the Organization’s best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination it shall make its decision as the whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
4. Violations of the Conflict of Interest Policy
a. If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member the opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
b. If, after hearing the member’s response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.
The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:
a. The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the governing board’s or committee’s decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.
b. The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.
a. A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Organization for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
b. A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Organization for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
c. No voting member of the governing board or any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Organization, either individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such person:
a. Has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy,
b. Has read and understands the policy,
c. Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
d. Understands the Organization is charitable and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.
To ensure the Organization operates in a manner consistent with charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:
a. Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information, and the result of arm’s length bargaining.
b. Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management organizations conform to the Organization’s written policies, and are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services, further charitable purposes and do not result in inurement, impermissible private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction.
When conducting the periodic reviews as provided for in Article VII, the Organization may, but need not, use outside advisors. If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the governing board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part V, 7a
Legal services were purchased from Catalyst Law Group, the employer of director Michiko Lindsey. The terms were negotiated with the law firm by the founder of Designers4Africa, April Star Davis, prior to Michiko’s appointment as a director. We believe that no more than fair market value was paid for these services based upon the comparable cost charged by other legal service providers, such as Legal Zoom.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part VI, 1a and b
D4A provides goods, services and funds to individuals and other 501c3 organizations. Goods and services provided include training and materials to enable Sub-Saharan women to start and maintain their own micro-businesses. An example is jewelry-making: D4A provides the materials and trains the women in how to make the jewelry. The women then sell the jewelry as a way to be self-sufficient.
D4A provides goods to other organizations by facilitating the donation of items to be auctioned off at the various charity events of these organizations for fundraising.
D4A also provides funding to other 501c3 organizations that benefit Sub-Saharan women and children. An example is the funding that has been granted to Drop in the Bucket, a charity that builds wells and sanitation systems in Africa.
Decisions regarding the provision of goods, services and funds are made by the Board of Directors for D4A upon the recommendation of any board member and/or individual and organizational requests made directly to D4A.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part VIII, 4a
Mail, email, personal and phone solicitations for goods (to be auctioned) and funds will be made in conjunction with fundraising programs and events presented or sponsored by D4A such as the “Darfur” movie release and social and networking events. These solicitations may also direct donors to D4A’s website to make a cash donation.
Foundation grant solicitations will be made as appropriate opportunities for funding for D4A’s programs present themselves.
Donations on D4A’s website will be solicited by having a “donate” button on the website and referring to the ability to donate via the website. In addition to selling goods made in Africa.
D4A will solicit for foundation grants, government grants and donations from other organization’s as such opportunities arise.
D4A will sponsor and co-sponsor silent auctions and fashion-related fundraisers.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part VIII, 4c
D4A presently raises funds in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties in California. The funds we raise are for D4A.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part VIII, 11
Works of art: D4A accepts donations of artworks, jewelry and fashion-related items for auctions to raise funds.
12b. Sub-Saharan Africa.
12c. D4A provides materials and training for Sub-Saharan women so that they can develop and maintain their own micro-businesses for self-sufficiency.
12d. The operations in Sub-Saharan Africa further our exempt purposes by creating change and empowering the women of Sub-Saharan Africa in the goal of self-sufficiency.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part VIII, 13b-g
13b. The support of organizations that benefit Sub-Saharan women and children, both in Africa and U.S. refugees, furthers our exempt purpose by their provision of services to this group. Services that are provided include aid and development services, and health-care and education-related services. Examples are Drop in the Bucket, an organization that builds wells and sanitation systems in Africa, and the Southern Sudanese Community Center in San Diego where D4A has assisted in the provision of books for the children’s library.
13d. At this time we support the two organizations listed above. We also support United Foster Parents Plan. There is no relationship between D4A and the recipient organizations.
13e. We record our grants to recipient organizations by publicizing them in our organizational materials and website and maintain internal records of grants by documenting the grants in board minutes, keeping copies of checks issued and maintaining written and photographic evidence of the follow-up done to ensure that the grant was properly used.
13f. At this time we do not require formal applications or grant proposals. The responsibilities of D4A and the grantee, the obligation to use grant funds only for the purposes for which the grant was made, any requirement for periodic written reports and a final written report and accounting, and the acknowledgement of D4A’s authority to withhold and/or recover grant funds in case such funds are, or appear to be, misused are communicated to the grantee verbally. We will be implementing a procedure whereby a letter outlining the above information will accompany the check for the granted funds. As our organization grows, we may implement the use of application forms and proposals as appropriate.
13g. At this time we do not require formal periodic and final reports on the use of resources. We maintain contact with the organizations that receive our funds to ensure the proper usage of funds. In the case of funds used for foreign projects, we follow up on the use of resources as outlined in Item 14.
Name: DESIGNERS4AFRICA EIN: 27-1578447
Part VIII, 14b-14f
14b. We currently support Drop in the Bucket and United Foster Parents Plan who each provide services overseas but are 501c3 organizations based in the U.S. We do not currently support any foreign organizations but may do so in the future.
14c. Not applicable.
14d. We intend to relay this information verbally and on D4A’s website.
14e. Our pre-grant inquiries about a recipient organization include inquiries made about the recipient’s financial status, its tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code, its ability to accomplish the purpose for which the resources are provided, and other relevant information. Inquiries are made via interviews and by obtaining copies of relevant documentation. D4A’s founder, April Star Davis, travels to the location in which services are provided to evaluate how funds are spent and managed.
14f. Site visits are conducted by D4A’s founder, April Star Davis, to confirm that grant funds are being used appropriately. D4A also requests photo and video documentation of the projects in which services are being provide
