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INDEGO AFRICA PROJECT
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 205874831 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q30 · International Affairs · Small ($100K-$1M) · indegoafrica.org
revenue
$779K
expenses
$727K
net assets
$202K
employees
7
volunteers
18
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

INDEGO AFRICA PROJECT, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS BEEN PROPELLING THE CREATION, GROWTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN RWANDA SINCE 2007 AND IN GHANA SINCE 2016, PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH ACCESS TO A GLOBAL MARKET FOR THEIR HAND MADE PRODUCTS, INVESTING IN THEIR EDUCATION, AND PROVIDING FUNDING RESOURCES TO HELP THEM BUILD THEIR BUSINESSES. OVER 2,500 ARTISANS HAVE PARTNERED WITH INDEGO AFRICA SINCE ITS INCEPTION. WHAT BEGAN AS A MODEL TO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE WOMEN IN POST-GENOCIDE RWANDA HAS GROWN INTO A COMMITMENT TO HELP WOMEN, YOUTH, AND REFUGEES IN RWANDA AND GHANA BECOME SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Indego Africa Project empowers women, youth, and refugees in Rwanda and Ghana by supporting women-owned artisan businesses. The organization provides access to global markets for handmade goods, offers skills-based business and leadership training, and fosters financial independence through a market-driven model. Founded in 2007, it has partnered with over 2,500 artisans to create sustainable livelihoods.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $363K
    MARKET ACCESS:PROVIDING OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN STEADY, SUSTAINABLE INCOME IS A KEY ELEMENT OF INDEGO'S MARKET-BASED IMPACT MODEL AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN. TO FURTHER INCREASE THE WORK AVAILABLE FOR THE ARTISANS BEYOND OUR EXISTING WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS, IN 2021 WE ADDED A THIRD DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL FOR HIGH VOLUME CUSTOM ORDERS FOR MAJOR BRANDS. OUR PRODUCTION TEAMS IN AFRICA TRAVEL TO AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS TO EXPLAIN PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND CONDUCT QUALITY CONTROL REVIEWS, AND PREPARE FOR MONTHLY AIR CARGO SHIPMENTS TO THE U.S. THIS HELPS REINFORCE OUR PARTNERS' PRACTICAL SKILLS WITH THE ONSITE GUIDANCE THEY NEED TO CREATE HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EXPORT MARKET.
  2. #2 $16K
    BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP:INDEGO AFRICA BELIEVES THAT EDUCATING WOMEN IS THE KEY TO LONG-TERM EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL CHANGE. THROUGH CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INDEGO'S PARTNERS DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO RUN AND SCALE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, BECOME EMPOWERED ENTREPRENEURS, AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Artisan Livelihood Protection Fund
Supports artisans during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic by maintaining steady orders and bearing commercial risk to protect livelihoods
Business and Community Leadership
Offers customized business and leadership training programs to help women artisans run and scale their own businesses
Market Access
Provides artisans with access to global markets through wholesale, retail, and custom order channels, ensuring steady income and international export opportunities
Technology Training for the Workplace
Offers technology, job application, and soft skills training to young college graduates in Rwanda and Ghana to improve workforce entry and success
Young Leaders Academy
Provides advanced business education and technology training to graduates of vocational programs in Rwanda to enhance cooperative productivity and leadership
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Artist Marketplace Operations 1 activity
    • Facilitates sale of handcrafted goods by refugee and artisan women in Africa
      Partners with female artisans and refugees in Rwanda, Burundi, and Ghana to produce and sell handmade home decor and accessories using traditional techniques and sustainably sourced materials, with products distributed in the United States and global markets.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Provides business and technology training for women, youth, and refugees in Africa
      Offers skills-based programs including the Young Leaders Academy and Technology Training for the Workplace in Rwanda and Ghana, delivering advanced business education, technology instruction, job application support, and leadership development to graduates of vocational programs; over half of participants launch enterprises or attain leadership roles, and 100% improve computer skills with over half securing employment post-training.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$779K
Contributions & grants$687K88%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$88K
expenses
Total expenses$727K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$475K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$388K
Cash$192K
Investments$0
Liabilities$186K
Net assets$202K
Liquid reserves3.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +55.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SUWHA HONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $85K
board members · 19
  • ALEXANDRA KENNEDY — TRUSTEE
  • CHRISTOPHER BIROSAK — VICE CHAIRMAN
  • CONOR FRENCH — TRUSTEE
  • DANA COPPOLINO — TRUSTEE
  • DANIEL SACKS — TRUSTEE
  • DOMINIQUE SCHULTE — TRUSTEE
  • ELIZABETH LYNCH — TRUSTEE
  • HELEN GUGLE — TRUSTEE
  • JARAMOGI ADAMS — TRUSTEE
  • JOSEPH OWENS — CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
  • JUSTINE LEE — TRUSTEE
  • KAREN YELICK — TRUSTEE
  • LYNDSAY ABRAMS — TRUSTEE
  • MATTHEW MITRO — CHAIRMAN
  • PUNEET MANSHARAMANI — TRUSTEE
  • RYAN LESTER — SECRETARY
  • SELOM TETTEH — TRUSTEE
  • SIERRA VISHER KROHA — TRUSTEE
  • STEPHEN FORESTA — TRUSTEE
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Facebook Network — Shares content on Facebook platform.
  • Facebook Partner — Social media presence on Facebook.
  • Ghana Partner — Artisan partners in Ghana craft products for Indego Africa.
  • Ghana Partner — Partners with artisans in Ghana to produce handmade décor and accessories.
  • Indego Africa Government — 501(c)(3) organization with EIN: 20-5874831
  • Indego Africa Network — Implied membership or affiliation with a network promoting African-made goods
  • Indego Africa Network — Member of a 501(c)(3) organization focused on African artisan empowerment.
  • Instagram Network — Shares content on Instagram platform.
  • Instagram Partner — Social media presence on Instagram.
  • LinkedIn Network — Shares content on LinkedIn platform.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Social media presence on LinkedIn.
  • MADE51 Partner — Collaborative partnership to connect refugee artisans with global markets through ethical, handcrafted products.
  • Major Brands Partner — Receives high-volume custom orders from major brands through a dedicated distribution channel.
  • Pinterest Network — Shares content on Pinterest platform.
  • Pinterest Partner — Social media presence on Pinterest.
  • Rwanda Partner — Artisan partners in Rwanda craft products for Indego Africa.
  • Rwanda Partner — Artisans in Rwanda craft the handwoven plateau baskets sold by Indego Africa.
  • Rwanda Partner — Partners with artisans in Rwanda to produce handmade décor and accessories.
  • UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency Government — Partner organization that supports the MADE51 initiative, which connects refugee artisans to global markets.
  • YouTube Network — Shares content on YouTube platform.
  • YouTube Partner — Social media presence on YouTube.
  • artisan partners in Rwanda and Ghana Partner — Collaborates with local artisan groups in Rwanda and Ghana to co-create hand-beaded products.
  • organizations Partner — Partners with organizations that believe in the transformative power of women-led, artisan-owned businesses.
  • tastemakers Partner — Partners with tastemakers who support the transformative power of women-led, artisan-owned businesses.
  • top brands Partner — Partners with top brands that share a commitment to artisanal craft and women-led, artisan-owned businesses.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cultural Preservation Through Ethical Craftsmanship
    methodology: cultural_preservation_through_artisanship
    By partnering with artisans to market handcrafted goods that use heritage techniques and locally sourced materials, we preserve cultural traditions and support sustainable livelihoods, because ethical artisanship strengthens both identity and economic resilience.
  • Market-Based Empowerment Through Artisan Partnerships
    methodology: market_based_impact_model
    By integrating artisan production into global supply chains, we generate sustainable income for women entrepreneurs, because market access combined with fair wages creates long-term economic opportunity and social change.
  • Skills-Based Education for Entrepreneurial Empowerment
    methodology: skills_based_education
    By delivering customized business, leadership, and vocational training to women, we build entrepreneurial capacity and drive community economic growth, because education is foundational to long-term empowerment and systemic change.