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MOVING WINDMILLS PROJECT INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 262381809 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q32 · International Affairs · Small ($100K-$1M) · movingwindmills.org
revenue
$281K
expenses
$355K
net assets
$234K
employees
0
program ratio
74%
mission · from form 990

TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT POOR AND DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES BY STIMULATING THEIR ECONOMIES, CREATING JOBS, AND ALLEVIATING CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH POVERTY. TO IDENTIFY FUTURE LEADERS WITHIN POOR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP LIFT THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF POVERTY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit organization founded on William Kamkwamba's story, focused on community development and innovation in Malawi. Implements sustainable infrastructure projects including solarization, water wells, and community hubs. Empowers youth through hands-on learning in renewable energy, agriculture, and problem-solving, aiming to stimulate local economies and lift communities out of poverty.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $23K
    OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING BOOKS FOR AFRICA,COMMUNITY LEAGUE, LITERACY & TRANSLATION,PROGRAMMING AND WATER IRRIGATION.
  2. #2 $4K
    SCHOOL SOLARIZATION AND COMMUNITY LEAGUE
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Apprenticeship Program
Hands-on training program for local youth in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and community development; no prior experience required.
Moving Windmills Innovation Center
Experiential learning hub designed to empower African innovators through mentorship, collaboration, and access to tools for solving local challenges; serves as a regional incubator for entrepreneurship.
Phase Zero: Community Development
Long-term foundational project in Kasungu focused on installing essential infrastructure including multifunctional community hubs, water wells, and educational improvements to support future innovation.
SPARK Program
Global engagement initiative connecting schools and communities worldwide to support youth-led projects in Malawi through fundraising, awareness campaigns, and educational exchanges.
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Fundraising for Community and Charitable Initiatives 1 activity
    • Accepting and processing donations and in-kind contributions
      Accepts monetary donations of any size, in-kind donations of educational materials, technology, furniture, and rechargeable batteries, as well as contributions via Donor Advised Funds and employer matching gift programs, to support programs in Malawi. Processes donations and sends confirmation emails.
  • Integrated Community-Led Development Programs 1 activity
    • Community development and infrastructure improvement in Malawian villages
      Conducts village development through public improvement projects including construction and maintenance of infrastructure, healthcare access improvements, and implementation of sustainable, circular, and human-centered design principles in Malawi.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Curriculum development and educational partnerships based on William Kamkwamba’s story
      Partners with educational organizations to promote curriculum resources based on William Kamkwamba's life and innovations, providing lesson plans and hands-on activities that highlight environmental issues, renewable energy, and community development.
  • Bicycle Distribution and Repair Programs 1 activity
    • Electric mobility and local technical training in Malawi
      Operates an electric fleet of bicycles, motorcycles, and a car to support rural mobility and trains local apprentices in fleet maintenance and management, building local technical capacity and sustainable transportation solutions.
  • SDG Advancement & Global Advocacy 1 activity
    • Global collaboration and speaking engagements to promote innovation and development
      Facilitates global collaboration among classrooms, libraries, and communities to support development in Malawi and offers speaking engagements featuring William Kamkwamba or team members for educational and public events, either virtually or in person.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • SPARK program for community engagement and youth innovation in Malawi
      Operates the SPARK program to support locally led community projects in Malawi, including innovation hubs, youth initiatives, and food programs. Provides SPARK members with educational resources based on The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, hosts biannual online meet-ups, and supports SPARK events such as 24-hour electricity fasts, book discussions, and film watch parties.
  • School Infrastructure Development 1 activity
    • School renovation and educational resource provision in Malawi
      Renovates local schools by adding new facilities, delivering over 24,000 books (including STEAM, agriculture, and Girl's Empowerment content), and equipping Community Hubs with laptop computers pre-loaded with EndlessOS interactive software to support experiential learning.
  • Solar Energy Access in Underserved Communities 1 activity
    • Solar electrification of schools and community infrastructure in Malawi
      Installs solar power systems, including solar panels, battery management, and solar controllers, in rural schools and maize mills across Malawi to provide reliable electricity for education and community use. Projects include electrifying 12 schools in Kasungu, enabling after-hours lighting for an estimated 36,000 Malawians.
  • Smallholder Agricultural Development 1 activity
    • Sustainable agriculture and community nutrition programs in Malawi
      Supports sustainable farming practices, nutrition initiatives, and community-led food programs in Malawi to improve food security and promote long-term resilience.
  • Clean Water Infrastructure and Access 1 activity
    • Water access and sanitation infrastructure development in Malawi
      Builds low-cost water wells using percussion drilling and implements water sanitation systems in Malawian villages. Also supports irrigation projects to improve agricultural productivity and community resilience.
  • K–12 Computer Science & AI Education 1 activity
    • Youth re-engagement and programming education in Malawi
      Engages out-of-school youth through programming education and experiential learning opportunities that encourage returning to formal or informal learning spaces and applying technical skills to improve their lives.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$281K
Contributions & grants$252K90%
Program service revenue$29K10%
Investment income$2040%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$355K
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$340K
Cash$20K
Investments$0
Liabilities$106K
Net assets$234K
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -26.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 1
  • THOMAS P RIELLY — President
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • BookBreaks Partner — Provides virtual author talks with William Kamkwamba for middle and secondary school students.
  • Books for Africa Partner — Partner organization collaborating on the delivery of over 24,000 books to Kasungu.
  • Cassey Rong, Feuer & Orlando, LLP Partner — Legal firm serving as the contact address for the organization.
  • Donorbox Partner — Third-party processor used to handle payment details for donations.
  • Google Analytics Partner — Analytics tool used to understand how visitors use the website.
  • IDEO.org Partner — William Kamkwamba worked as a Global Fellow for IDEO.org, a design firm aligned with human-centered innovation.
  • Journeys in Film Partner — Collaborates to provide educational curriculum resources based on William Kamkwamba's story.
  • Kaust Partner — Provides mentorship for apprentices in the Moving Windmills apprenticeship program.
  • MASS Design Partner — Collaborated on a short film about the Moving Windmills Project mission and vision.
  • Teachers Pay Teachers Partner — Hosts educator-created curriculum resources for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind to support classroom use.
  • WiderNet Project Partner — Collaborated with William Kamkwamba to develop appropriate technologies curriculums that bridge the gap between “knowing” and “doing” for youth in Malawi and globally.
  • William Kamkwamba Network — Co-founder and inspirational figure whose story and quote are central to the SPARK initiative.
  • William Kamkwamba Partner — Co-founder and inspirational figure who contributes welcome videos and supports the SPARK movement.
  • William Kamkwamba Partner — Collaborates on solar electrification projects at his school in Wimbe, Malawi
  • community-based organizations Partner — Collaborates with local organizations to implement solar installations at schools in Malawi.
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.

  • Community-Driven Innovation through Local Leadership Development
    methodology: community-leader-development
    By identifying and equipping emerging local leaders with skills and experience, the organization drives sustainable poverty alleviation and economic development because locally rooted leadership ensures culturally relevant, long-term solutions.
  • Experiential and Apprenticeship-Based Learning for Youth Empowerment
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By engaging youth in hands-on learning, apprenticeships, and real-world problem solving, the organization builds resilience and leadership because practical application fosters deeper engagement and skill retention than theoretical instruction alone.
  • Global-Local Engagement through Storytelling and Cultural Exchange
    methodology: story-based-engagement
    By using film-based storytelling and connecting global participants with Malawian communities, the organization inspires action and supports innovation because emotional resonance and cross-cultural relationships increase motivation, empathy, and sustained support for development goals.
  • Solar-Powered Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Education and Community Development
    methodology: solar-electrification-for-education
    By integrating solar electrification into schools, maize mills, and community hubs, the organization expands access to education, technology, and services because reliable energy enables longer operating hours, digital learning, and multi-functional community spaces.