2023-11-13T10:00:35-07:00 2022-12-31 271375413 BWK Rogers PC 431 South 7th Street Suite 2424 Minneapolis MN 55415 990 2022-01-01 300658898 NEXUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS NEXU 6512897038 2314 University Avenue Suite 18 Saint Paul MN 55114 Repa Mekha President and CEO 6512897038 2023-11-01 1 1 Melissa J Baraibar P02464922 6123325446 2023-10-30 1 11 0 AAL2 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z Repa Mekha 2314 University Avenue Suite 18 Saint Paul MN 55114 3363856 0 X www.nexuscp.org X 2010 MN Nexus' work ensures that people participate in the economic, civic and social activities that improve their communities and advance racial, social and economic equity. Nexus works on the East Side of St. Paul, in North and South Minneapolis, and in the broader Twin Cities region. Nexus advances its mission by focusing on three key activities: 1. Strengthening organizations: Nexus builds the capacity of the community-based organizations and their leaders to promote equitable and sustainable change in their communities. This is accomplished through funding and on-the-ground technical assistance. 2. Developing innovative initiatives: Nexus creates the space and provides support to innovative initiatives that advance equity and sustainable change. 3. Aligning and amplifying resources: Nexus intentionally connects local efforts to broader regional initiatives, linking neighborhoods to regional institutions, decision-making and economic opportunities. 10 10 29 10 0 0 10086179 3035913 187160 177143 13849 150336 6924 464 10294112 3363856 385000 1840462 0 0 2047854 2500200 0 0 221353 886273 2157445 3319127 6498107 6974985 -3134251 15080839 11964843 566009 936021 14514830 11028822 Nexus' mission is to build more engaged and powerful communities by supporting community building initiatives that expand community wealth and foster social and human capital. 0 0 3940813 1663103 177607 The mission of Nexus Community Partners is to build more engaged and powerful communities of color by supporting community-building initiatives that expand community wealth and foster social and human capital. We advance our mission by focusing on three key activities: strengthening organizations and leaders, developing innovative initiatives, and aligning and amplifying resources for grassroots organizations working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In 2022, the demand for all aspects of our work has skyrocketed, while our long-standing commitment to healing and relationship-based grantmaking has garnered a new level of interest. We reached 1,500+ individuals and organizations including 55% in the East Metro, 43% in the West Metro, and 2% from Greater Minnesota and beyond. We supported a group of 20 emerging cooperatives (majority BIPOC-led) through fellowships and technical assistance. The Nexus Community Engagement Institute received inquiries about our resources from around the globe and an influx of calls for fee-based services from local government and private entities searching for deeper learning on racial equity. Our Worker Ownership Initiative was invited to submit a proposal to the City of St. Paul to ensure American Recovery Plan dollars are invested effectively in BIPOC-led cooperative efforts. Beyond our programming, Nexus has also taken some time to begin processing the implications of the rapid changes in landscape we have experienced over the past two years. We finished an organizational-wide process to develop a new narrative for Nexus, generated new tools and materials on community engagement, and breathed new life into a community leadership program transferred to us from a local foundation. Highlights include: Community Wealth Building Work North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship (North Star). North Star is a six-month fellowship to support Black-led Cooperatives in Minnesota through education on Black American Cooperative Economics. In May 2022, 16 North Star Fellows explored the power of community ownership models with a focus on housing and land related ventures. Workshops focused on key aspects of cooperatives including governance, conflict resolution, management, and finance. North Star Fellows represent the following groups: BLK Leadership Kollective, Build the Parallel, High Priestess, Marronage, Sweet Leaf Healing Collective, The Torch Cooperative Investment Trust Worker Ownership Initiative (WOI). WOI supports the development of worker-owned cooperatives through four core strategies: 1) business "conversions" (transitioning existing businesses to cooperatives), 2) support for early-stage start-ups, 3) technical assistance to large-scale real estate cooperatives, and 4) education and outreach with financial institutions and funders. With one business conversion completed, three deep in transition, expanded communications, and meaningful relationships built across sectors, WOI is positioned for a new level of growth at a time when the need for democratic and equitable models is stronger than ever. Highlights of recent technical assistance include: Early assistance * Worked with Singing Hills, a group of BIPOC farmers considering transitioning to a cooperative. They had not settled on an entity type and WOI helped them explore multiple types of shared ownership. * Received inquiries for assistance from several startups interested in the cooperative format and offered TA services to Future Builders Co-op (a startup supported by an alliance of organizations including Unidos MN, SEIU, and CTUL), F12 People's Kitchen, and Rabble Rouser Cafe. Feasibility and Transition Contracts * Began feasibility study for Precipitate, a woman-owned architecture firm focused on climate justice with 5 employees. * Began transition services with Improve Group, a media company with approximately 23 employees. The company is aiming to complete the process of becoming a worker cooperative by the end of 2022. * Began transition planning with Community Safety Specialists, a collaboration between Next Global Security, Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, and SEIU Local 26. They have launched a state-accredited certified apprenticeship program to train Safety Specialists that provide crisis response services. When completed, the business will operate as a majority BIPOC cooperative providing a just and effective strategy for ensuring community safety. The transition to a co-op will happen after November 2022, with plans of having the current apprentice cohort (10 staff) becoming the founding members. Completed We completed the transition of The People's Canvass into a MN 308B cooperative in October 2021. They are an innovative leader of "deep canvassing", providing relation-based, person-to-person outreach services for campaigns and organizations. They anticipate having up to 20 members by March 2022. Real Estate Investment Cooperatives (REICs). Beyond supporting individual businesses, we see strategic value in supporting the development of REICs that preserve commercial districts that are home to locally owned businesses. * Pre-launch progress on Midway Investment Co-op, drafting articles and bylaws, selecting the interim Board, and mapping out post-launch workplan. * Consulting for Ignite Business-women Investment Group (IBIG), 25 African immigrant women business-owners: articles and bylaws, predevelopment, and financial planning. * Consulting with Northend REIC on co-op design (e.g., governance and startup process). Education and Outreach: EO Equals Campaign: The "EO Equals" campaign is designed to help small business owners understand the broad business benefits of employee ownership ("EO") and serve as a national resource for cooperative conversions. As one of four founding members, WOI staff supported research and planning (led by Hattaway Communications) leading to the successful launch of the EO Equals campaign in fall of 2021. Worker Owner Wednesdays (WOW): WOI staff initiated its own social media campaign with weekly posts featuring stories and analyses of cooperatives and the broad benefits they provide to workers, communities, and the main street economy overall. With 35 posts under our belt in, "WOW" is gaining recognition across several platforms. Public webinars: WOI staff participated in fifteen different webinars to a wide range of audiences including business owners, business associations, elected officials, public sector staff, and community members. We presented primarily on business succession planning and EO. Some of our presenting partners included: Hennepin County Elevate, Minneapolis Ward 1 Community Forum, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis Business Technical Assistance Program, and the City of Roseville. Public Sector Engagement. Since Nexus established WOI in 2016, we have worked steadily to shift the narrative from cooperatives as a nice idea to cooperatives as a core strategy for re-building main street economies. That hard work has paid off. Based on years of relationship building - and the stark realities of income inequality laid bare the pandemic - Nexus is at the forefront of new and powerful opportunities to promote cooperatives on a larger scale than ever before. Key partnerships include: Locally Owned Cooperative Assistance and Loan (LOCAL) Fund. Both the Mayor and the City Council of St. Paul have indicated support for our proposal for a cooperative assistance plan: the Locally Owned Cooperative Assistance and Loan (LOCAL) Fund. Our proposal includes a revolving loan fund, pre-development fund, and technical assistance. Minnesota State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). For the first time, the state is considering financial support for cooperatives. As members of the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, Nexus helped develop proposals for Minnesota's SSBCI funds, including a $15 million Community Wealth Building Program that will provide technical assistance and loans for employee ownership. 1309293 177359 0 Community Engagement and Leadership Development Grounded in Nexus' commitment to community engagement as the through line supporting all of our work, we have deepened and expanded our approach to leadership with new and enhanced programming and documentation of our learning. Nexus Community Engagement Institute (NCEI) advances and strengthens communities through equity-based community engagement, both locally and nationally. As the new home of Neighborhood leadership program ("NLP," transferred from the Wilder Foundation), NCEI has expanded its offerings and deepen the knowledge and practice of community engagement for individuals, organizations, and institutions in Minnesota and across the country. In this past year we have worked with 277 individuals and 37 organizations from across the country, including non-profit leadership associations, patient advocacy groups, grassroots organizations, government agencies, and, through a partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, a group of 19 public and private group in the criminal legal system. Over the past year, we also completed an inventory of workshops, curricula, and other educational tools to organize and consolidate our Community Engagement and Leadership Development offerings across programs. We are creating a menu of options for potential workshop hosts who are reaching out to us from across the country. We have also developed some new curricula over this past year, including workshops integrating our own materials with Intercultural Development Inventory assessments for individuals working in the legal system, facilitation cards to stimulate deep reflection on community leadership, and various ancillary materials aimed at engaging participants in our longer workshop series-all provided online at this time. In the coming year, we seek to expand these tools for use in a variety of settings, including expanded fee for service workshops with nonprofits and the growing number of municipalities who are seeking out our expertise in the wake of the uprising against police brutality in Minneapolis. Significant initiatives in development In addition to our work in the community, Nexus has been busy behind the scenes implementing the planning phase for two new initiatives that will launch in 2023. Sabbaticals program. We received a three-year, $3.15 MM grant to pilot a sabbatical program for BIPOC leaders in Minnesota's racial justice movement that includes paid time off, support for sponsoring organizations, additional travel/wellness service stipends for participants, and organizing to support the broader eco-system for healing for BIPOC folks in Minnesota. We have also set aside funding to document and evaluate our approach with an eye toward inspiring more foundations to fund wellness as an integral part of movement building. Nexus' Black Community Trust Fund. In December 2021, Nexus was selected by the Bush Foundation to establish a Community Trust Fund that will direct $50 million to Black communities in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. These funds will be provided to Nexus with minimal restrictions and we will be responsible for not just distributing grants, but with managing the $50 million in assets and structuring all aspects of the trust fund with the only stipulations being that grants support wealth building activities and that they go directly to Black individuals living in the three states served by the Bush Foundation. Throughout 2022, we convened Black community members from the region to design this process of redistribution, while we built our internal capacity to support both the spirit and implementation of the trust fund. Growing Nexus operations and culture With significant growth ahead of us, Nexus seeks to stay grounded in our community and our values. Our fluid, relationship-based approach to programs and management has been our hallmark and we often refer to as our culture of care. Today, Nexus must grow on the operations side, which requires a different approach and skill sets than program. However, as a BIPOC-led organization, we have experienced how these systems and structures have undermined caring and upheld white supremacy. The experiences of 2020 have also reinforced the importance of adaptability and responsiveness, things that Nexus has long practiced intuitively. To address this, we aim to scale our culture of care, not just our administrative capacity. As we share this goal publicly, we are finding others who align with our values with whom we can be in a learning relationship. For example, we have contracted with Diverge, a financial services firm that operates as a worker-owned cooperative with a stated goal of building financial leadership from BIPOC and GLBTQIA+ communities. As a cooperative, they are devoted to participatory budget and management processes and are led by experienced finance executives who understand both non-profit and cooperative finance. These are exactly the kinds of values, skills, and collaborative approaches that Nexus' culture requires. We have also established a new department of Learning and Development based, in part, on conversations with other social justice organizations in our network who seek to be in "right relationship" with donors, bringing a reparations framework to these relationships. The department will encompass fundraising and evaluation with a focus on capturing emerging learning often missed by traditional outcome-based assessments and incorporating Nexus' learning into all of our fundraising and communications strategies. 0 0 0 5250106 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 209 0 1 29 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 MN X The Organization 6512897038 2314 University Avenue Suite 18 Saint Paul MN 55114 Repa Mekha President and CEO 40 0 X 194111 0 32683 Theresa Gardella Vice President of Programs 40 0 X 132413 0 24352 Lulete Mola President and Co-Founder BCF 40 0 X 145203 0 1872 Danielle Mkali Senior Director of Community Trust Fund 40 0 X 126591 0 5484 Chalonne Wilson Vice President of Operations 40 0 X 107911 0 10907 Owen Duckworth Director 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Elaine Rasmussen Director 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Funlola Otukoya Director 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Brian Voerding Director 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Carl Crawford Director 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Amy Morris Director 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Jodi Bantley Co-Chair 0.5 0 X X 0 0 0 Gordon F Goodwin Co-Chair 0.5 0 X X 0 0 0 Trish DeAnda Secretary 0.50 0 X X 0 0 0 Nasser Mussa Treasurer 0.5 0 X X 0 0 0 706229 0 75298 5 0 1 0 Diverge Finance Cooperative 1771 Lydia Ave W Roseville MN 55113 Collective Financial Leadership 153300 Center for Evaluation Innovation 1660 L Street NW Suite 450 Washington DC 20036 Strategic Planning 135633 STL Consulting Inc 201 S 11th St Unit 720 Minneapolis MN 55403 Financial Management Services 103296 Maude LLC 9925 Avocet St NW Coon Rapids MN 55433 Project Management 102232 4 0 0 0 0 0 3035913 0 3035913 Contracted Services 611430 152130 152130 0 0 Registration Fees 611430 25013 25013 0 0 0 0 0 0 177143 150336 0 0 150336 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 464 464 0 0 464 3363856 177607 0 150336 X 1840462 1840462 226794 68038 136077 22679 1816631 1324639 357047 134945 64553 46654 13079 4820 234830 171917 45510 17403 157392 108245 37065 12082 11621 11621 208358 208358 899037 871867 21017 6153 46896 36139 7331 3426 52613 30534 19026 3053 186781 104551 69399 12831 64867 50485 14064 318 133447 100771 32241 435 51526 19277 31177 1072 27220 18457 6797 1966 Stipends 388413 388413 0 0 Sponsorships and Memberships 36944 33187 3757 0 Finance Charges 2352 0 2352 0 47370 36470 10730 170 6498107 5250106 1026648 221353 234373 200286 11038117 3678558 1343386 3089128 21126 9847 42694 297872 133666 193357 164206 5682006 100000 516017 732581 15080839 11964843 49992 172770 516017 262987 0 500264 566009 936021 X 1493334 1180177 13021496 9848645 14514830 11028822 15080839 11964843 -3134251 -328358 0 -23399 0 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 3086517 4137671 5422793 10086179 3035913 25769073 3086517 4137671 5422793 10086179 3035913 25769073 13015363 12753710 2668 18282 9204 13849 150336 194339 2897 19487 0 6924 464 29772 25993184 661624 0.49066 0.43476 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 Other Income RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 1 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 160755 54880 105875 0 137117 78786 58331 0 0 0 0 164206 Right-of-Use Asset - Operating Lease 469594 Fiscal Agent Cash 262987 732581 0 Lease Liability - Operating Lease 500264 500264 X 3012099 -328358 0 0 0 -328358 3340457 23399 0 23399 3363856 6498107 0 0 0 0 0 6498107 0 0 0 6498107 Schedule D, Part IV, Line 2b The Organization acted as a fiscal agent for various organizations. As the fiscal agent, the Organization accepts assets from donors and agrees to transfer those assets to organizations for a not-for-profit purpose that is specified by donors. Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 The Organization's activities are generally exempt from federal and state income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Since the Organization is exempt from federal and state income tax liability, no provision is made for current or deferred income tax expense. The Organization is not a private foundation. Management has determined that the Organization is not subject to unrelated business income tax. Management is not aware of any transactions that would impact the Organization's tax-exempt status. The Organization follows the guidance of the Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, related to uncertainties in income taxes, which prescribes a threshold of more likely than not for recognition and derecognition of positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, management of the Organization is not aware of any material uncertain tax positions. All tax-exempt entities are subject to review and audit by federal, state and other applicable agencies. Such agencies may review the taxability of unrelated business income, or the qualification of the tax-exempt entity under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable state statutes. For federal tax purposes, the tax returns remain open for possible examination for a period of three years after the respective filing deadlines of those returns. 1 Lao Assistance Center of MN 1015 4th Ave N Minneapolis MN 55405 363255880 501(c)(3) 10000 general operating grant Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop TONE UP 1425 Grantham St Saint Paul MN 55108 471890824 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving Towards Abolition Fund Live Free Illinois 4445 S King Dr Chicago IL 60653 815487128 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving Towards Abolition Fund Community Partners 1000 N Alameda St Suite 240 Los Angeles CA 90012 954302067 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving towards Abolition Fund Peace Development Fund PO Box 1280 Amherst MA 01004 042738794 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving Towards Abolition Fund #2022-09 - American Indian Prison Project Tides Foundation PO Box 889389 Los Angeles CA 900889389 510198509 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving towards abolition fund Grantee Players Philanthropy Fund 1122 Kenilworth Dr Ste 502 Towson MD 21204 276601178 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving towards abolition fund Grantee City of Lakes Community Land Trust 1930 Glenwood Avenue Minneapolis MN 554051248 061665031 501(c)(3) 25000 Grant for general operating support / community engagement Appetite for Change 430 1st Ave N Suite 300 Minneapolis MN 55411 275112040 501(c)(3) 25000 Grant for general operating support / community engagement Pillsbury United Communities - Waite House 2323 11th Ave S Minneapolis MN 55404 410916478 501(c)(3) 30000 General operating support for the KRSM Southside Media Project. The Fields At Rootspring 13537 47th St NW Annandale MN 55302 271709046 501(c)(3) 30000 Grant for general operating support / community engagement Lower Phalen Creek Project 60 Plato Blvd E Saint Paul MN 55107 275469929 501(c)(3) 30000 Grant for general operating support / community engagement African Economic Development Solutions 1821 University Ave Suite S-145 Saint Paul MN 55104 800345712 501(c)(3) 50000 general operating grant City of Lakes Community Land Trust 1930 Glenwood Avenue Minneapolis MN 554051248 061665031 501(c)(3) 25000 general operating grant during pandemic relief Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation 101 5th Street E Suite 400 Saint Paul MN 55101 416031510 501(c)(3) 20000 Grant to the East Side Funders Group African Career Education and Resource Inc 6800 78th Ave N Suite 101 Brooklyn Park MN 55443 471207676 501(c)(3) 50000 general operating grant Hope Community Inc 611 East Franklin Ave S Minneapolis MN 55404 411292817 501(c)(3) 40000 general operating grant/community wealth building Alliance for Global Justice 225 E 26th St Suite 1 Tucson AZ 85713 522094677 501(c)(3) 25000 Moving towards Abolition Fund - Black and Pink Massachusets Loyd Real Estate Partners LLC 7845 E River Rd Apt 113 Fridely MN 55432 852388331 LLC 17500 general operating grant/community wealth building Springboard for the Arts 262 University Ave W Saint Paul MN 55103 411690483 501(c)(3) 6000 general operating grant Frogtown Farm 149 Lafond Avenue Suite 200 Saint Paul MN 55103 320376628 501(c)(3) 15000 general operating grant/community wealth building Mni Sota Fund 1113 E Franklin Ave Ste 200 Minneapolis MN 55404 453579582 501(c)(3) 15000 general operating grant/community wealth building Hmong American Farmers Association 149 Thompson Ave E No 210 Saint Paul MN 55118 460928003 501(c)(3) 30000 general operating grant/community wealth building Frogtown Neighborhood Association 501 Dale Street North Saint Paul MN 55103 410963444 501(c)(3) 25000 general operating grant/community wealth building Wilder Square Cooperative Wilder Square Inc 755 Selby Suite A Saint Paul MN 55104 411250003 C Corp 10000 Grant for general operating support / community wealth building Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia 3715 CHICAGO AVE Minneapolis MN 55407 474987940 501(c)(3) 25000 general operating grant/community wealth building K's Revolutionary Catering and More PO Box 80581 Minneapolis MN 55408 825338366 LLC 10000 general operating grant/community wealth building Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers 3137 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis MN 55407 411658654 501(c)(3) 20000 general operating grant during pandemic relief 25 3 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 All Nexus grantees are required to sign a grant letter that indicates the terms of the grant, which includes the following terms: all grantees are required to submit a midterm and final report. The final report must be completed using Nexus database online system. The midterm format is submitted in writing or via visit with the grantee. Notes are kept by the staff or on the Nexus server. X X 1 1 X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Repa Mekha President and CEO 190334 0 2787 0 990 0 0 0 32683 0 226794 0 0 0 Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a The Organization paid $50 per month for health club dues. The Organization has a wellness plan that gives $500 a year for wellness related activities. Schedule J, Part I, Line 3 Compensation is based on the most recent Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' salary and benefits survey, which serves as a guide in determining the salary range. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b CFO will do an initial review. Finance committee (time permitting) and board will review 990s with organizational leadership and tax preparers. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Board Chair and President & CEO must be notified of any potential conflicts, and they present each matter to the Board for vote. Directors, at-large committee members, and staff are asked to sign a conflict of interest statement at the beginning of each calendar year. Any conflicts should be disclosed and are subject to the Board's vote, and the conflict must be stated and recorded in the meeting minutes. In addition, they monitor by making sure any persons with a conflict abstain from voting on issues that are related to their conflict. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The board reviews and approves compensation increases for the CEO. There was no change to his compensation in 2022. The board also reviews compensation changes for the organization overall (although not employee-by-employee) during the budget approval process. The board also reviews salary surveys (completed internally via the MCN nonprofit survey) when comparing data. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 The organization made its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part IX, Line 11g Project Management, Strategic Planning, Evaluations, and Other Contracted Services.