irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $62KHEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING: WEEKLY FREE YOGA FOR WOMEN; BREAST CANCER THEMED COMMUNITY DINNER; QUEER HARLEM RENAISSANCE WALK; MATERNITEA PARTY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW MOTHERS; MEDITATION RETREAT WITH HARLEM WELLNESS CENTER; COMMUNITY POTLUCK; EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING MEETINGS FOR DOULAS IN THE COMMUNITY; ANCESTRAL DOULA TRAINING IN SPANISH.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Potluck
Seasonal gatherings where community members share food and conversation, strengthening local bonds and mutual support.
Destination Dining - Bridging Cultures and Generations
Community event using shared meals to connect people across cultural and generational lines, promoting unity and storytelling.
Doula Circle
Support and education series for doulas, including workshops on financial assistance, work-life balance, and professional networking.
Free Women's Yoga
Weekly yoga sessions held in West Harlem, providing accessible wellness practices for women and gender-marginalized individuals.
Intergenerational Learning and Healing Program
Program fostering dialogue and healing across generations through shared learning, storytelling, and community-building activities.
Threaded Realities: Women, Identity & Fashion
Art exhibition and programming series highlighting women's identities and experiences through fashion and visual art, including community walks and discussions.
Women’s Wellness Day
Annual event offering holistic health services, wellness workshops, and community healing activities for women in West Harlem.
activities · 12 groups
What they do
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Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
- Advocate for women's rights at international forums and public campaignsHosts and participates in advocacy events at the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on issues including migrant women, menstrual hygiene management, nationality rights, and statelessness; launched the crowdfunding campaign “Beyond #MeToo: Our World. Our Future.”
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Women's Microenterprise and Livelihood Development 1 activity
- Deliver entrepreneurship and financial empowerment support for womenHosts pop-up shops for women artists and entrepreneurs, provides financial literacy workshops, and offers social media training to support economic empowerment and business development among Harlem women.
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Women's Leadership & Career Advancement Networks 1 activity
- Facilitate peer support and professional development circles for womenOrganizes doula circles for peer support on topics like work-life balance and financial assistance, and hosts networking events, career comeback events, and panel discussions to support professional growth and community building.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Host community events focused on healing, connection, and intergenerational dialogueOrganizes regular community dinners, potlucks, vision board parties, holiday markets, clothing drives, and themed events such as "Destination Dining" to foster intergenerational healing, cultural bridging, and community connection among women and gender-marginalized individuals in Harlem.
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Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
- Host educational and awareness-raising virtual conversations and panelsOrganizes virtual conversations and panel discussions on critical issues such as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), women’s education, and politics, often in collaboration with partner organizations.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Operate Kota Nest community hub for women-led collaboration and cultural exchangeManages the Kota Nest, a four-story Art Deco building in West Harlem serving as a community hub that offers event space with kitchen, garden, WiFi, and accommodations for up to 40 guests. The space supports rest, cultural programming, and inclusion, including disability accommodations.
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Trauma-Informed Community Resilience Initiatives 1 activity
- Provide trauma-informed and identity-affirming health servicesConducts Women's Health Forums on LGBTQIA+ and mental health topics, trauma-informed health services, self-defense instruction for teens, and doula training in partnership with organizations like Reciprocity Foundation and Harlem Wellness Center.
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Women's Wellness and Empowerment Programs 1 activity
- Provide weekly wellness programs including yoga, reiki, and meditationOffers free weekly in-person and digital yoga sessions, monthly digital reiki sessions, and meditation retreats in collaboration with Harlem Wellness Center to support women’s health and wellness in West Harlem.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Run arts and culture programs to amplify marginalized women artistsProduces arts programming including annual art exhibitions (e.g., “Rooted,” “Threaded Realities,” “The Meaning of Place”), writing labs (“Release & Rise: Healing to Authorship”), poetry workshops (“I AM: A Love Letter to Myself”), self-portrait workshops (“In Self Image”), and a video interview series highlighting women writers to promote visibility and healing through creative expression.
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Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
- Support vulnerable women through outreach and mentoring initiativesProvides direct support to homeless women in shelters and on the streets via the Rise of Broken Women initiative, supports survivors of domestic violence through Milagros Day Worldwide, and operates a Women’s Mentoring Network aimed at breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty.
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Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
- Train emerging NGO leaders through internshipsHosts multiple interns annually at its West Harlem office to provide hands-on experience in grassroots organizing and education on gender issues from diverse global perspectives.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Award recognition to human rights defendersHonored peace activist Sondos Alhoot with the 2024 Human Rights Defender Award, recognizing frontline advocacy and leadership in global human rights.
- Build organizational capacity through partnerships and alliancesForms strategic partnerships with organizations such as WomenStrong International, Partners for Creative Development, Assure Uganda, Vita-Activa.org, and Harlem Wellness Center, and welcomes new member organizations into its alliance to expand collective impact on gender equity.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$416K
Contributions & grants$191K46%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$30K7%
Other revenue$196K
expenses
Total expenses$448K
Program expenses44%
Admin / overhead36%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$209
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$2.15M
Cash$147K
Investments$173K
Liabilities$900K
Net assets$1.25M
Liquid reserves8.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- BEEJHY BARHANY — BOARD MEMBER
- CAEN DENNIS — SECRETARY
- CLOTILDE MONGUYA — BOARD MEMBER
- JAANA REHNSTROM — PRESIDENT
- RANDI PLEVY — TREASURER
- SABA ISMAIL — BOARD MEMBER
- SARAH FOLLEN — TREASURER
- YAOTUNDE OBIORA DIBIA — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- 4Ward Inclusion Partner — Co-developed and collaborates on the Intergenerational Learning & Healing Program for teen girls and gender non-conforming youth
- Assure Uganda Partner — Partner organization collaborating with The Kota Alliance.
- BroSis Partner — Program partner providing holistic youth support services in alignment with The Kota Alliance mission
- Common Threads Project Partner — Co-hosted an event titled "Healing Through Art & Community: An Evening with Common Threads Project."
- Globalizing Gender Partner — Partnered with Globalizing Gender to expand gender equity efforts globally.
- Harlem Partner — Location and community base for Kota's programs and hub activities.
- Harlem Wellness Center Partner — Co-hosts weekly yoga programs with The Kota Alliance
- Harlem Wellness Center Partner — Partner organization collaborating with The Kota Alliance.
- Harlem Wellness Center Partner — Partnered to organize yoga sessions and a meditation retreat.
- High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Partner — Participated in the HLPF 2018 to advocate on menstrual hygiene management and nationality rights.
- Jaana Rehnström Partner — Founder and President of The Kota Alliance Inc, leading organizational vision and strategy.
- Ladies of Hope Ministries Partner — Collaborated on a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway event.
- Milagros Day Worldwide Partner — Co-hosted the Be Your Own Superhero Workshop.
- Partners for Creative Development Partner — Collaborates with Partners for Creative Development (P4CD) on joint initiatives.
- Project Liberation Partner — Project Liberation is a new affiliate of The Kota Alliance.
- Reciprocity Foundation Partner — Collaborated on trauma-informed holistic health services and co-hosted a Women's Health Forum on LGBTQIA+ health concerns.
- Sondos Alhoot Partner — Recognized with the 2024 Human Rights Defender Award by The Kota Alliance
- UnTabooed Partner — Partner organization welcomed into the Kota Alliance
- Vita-Activa.org Partner — Partner organization collaborating with The Kota Alliance.
- West Harlem Arts Alliance Partner — Collaborates with The Kota Alliance on the Spring 2026 Art Exhibition "Rooted"
- WomenStrong International Partner — Formal affiliate organization working toward common goals.
strategies · 4
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.
- Arts for Empowerment and Holistic Wellnessmethodology: arts-for-empowermentBy integrating arts and cultural expression with wellness and community dialogue, the organization advances gender equity because creative self-expression fosters personal empowerment, mental well-being, and collective visibility for marginalized women and girls.
- Collaborative Partnership and Networked Advocacymethodology: collaborative_partnership_modelBy building collaborative nonprofit models and networked partnerships, the organization strengthens women’s empowerment because shared advocacy, cross-organizational dialogue, and collective programming increase reach, sustainability, and impact on policy and social norms.
- Local-to-Global Cultural Bridge Modelmethodology: cultural-bridge-local-to-globalBy connecting local activism in West Harlem with global gender justice movements through shared arts, advocacy, and wellness programming, the organization amplifies marginalized voices because localized stories gain transformative power when linked to international frameworks and solidarity networks.
- Menstrual Health as a Rights-Based Justice Issuemethodology: rights-based_approachBy advancing menstrual health management through a rights-based approach that integrates WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and gender equality, the organization treats menstrual equity as foundational to bodily autonomy and social inclusion, thereby addressing systemic barriers faced by women and girls.