2024-03-15T09:25:26-05:00 2023-12-31 411534805 CARPENTER EVERT & ASSOCIATES LTD 7760 FRANCE AVE S SUITE 940 BLOOMINGTON MN 55435 990 2023-01-01 834587871 MARKET ENTRY FUND THE MARK 6512619671 1136 GRAND AVE ST PAUL MN 55105 BRENDAN KURVERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6512619671 2024-03-13 1 BRENDAN KURVERS 999009999 0 NEAL EVERT P00046853 9528310085 2024-03-13 0 AAL1 IAL1 2023 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z X BRENDAN KURVERS 1136 GRAND AVE ST PAUL MN 55105 226959 0 X HTTP://MARKETENTRYFUND.ORG 2019 MN THE MARKET ENTRY (TMEF) AIMS TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS. OUR MISSION IS TO ENABLE TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE IN FOOD PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURING, TO PARTICIPATE EQUITABLY IN THIS INDUSTRY. SPECIFICALLY, TMEF PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES, ALONG WITH MICRO-GRANTS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION/AWARENESS TO HELP SMALL-SCALE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS WORK THROUGH RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO THEIR PARTICIPATION AND POTENTIAL IN THIS INDUSTRY. 4 4 1 8 0 0 226959 0 0 0 226959 21850 0 33852 0 2232 30372 86074 140885 146463 0 146463 X NONE 0 0 72103 1.THE MICRO-GRANTS PROGRAM PROVIDED SMALL GRANTS TO SMALL-SCALE/STARTUP FOOD MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES THAT ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR AND/OR WOMEN. IN 2023 - 13 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO 13 SMALL BUSINESSES. 100% OF THE RECIPIENTS WERE EITHER WOMEN AND/OR BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) ENTREPRENEURS/BUSINESSES. ALMOST ALL FUNDS WERE USED TO PURCHASE SMALL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT AND/OR TO COVER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED AND/OR INCREASED PRODUCTION LEVELS. OVER 80% OF THE RECIPIENTS WERE FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL AREA, AND THE REST WERE FROM RURAL MINNESOTA. 2. THE 100K ACCELERATOR PROGRAM MADE CONNECTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT HELPED SMALL-SCALE FOOD/BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS OF COLOR ACCESS DIFFERENT MARKETS FOR THE SALE OF THEIR PACKAGED FOOD/BEVERAGE PRODUCTS. 30 SMALL-SCALE MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES WERE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM HELPED THE BUSINESSES DISTRIBUTED OVER 1200 UNITS OF PRODUCTS ACROSS NEARLY 20 US STATES, AND AN ADDITIONAL 1000 PRODUCTS IN SALES IN MINNESOTA. 3. THE COMMUNITY RETAIL (OR CO-RETAIL) PROGRAM WORKED WITH LOCAL RETAIL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR RETAIL TRAINING, COACHING AND PRODUCT TESTING FOR MANUFACTURED/PACKAGED FOOD BUSINESS OF COLOR. WE HELPED PUT THE NEW PACKAGED FOOD PRODUCTS FROM THESE MANUFACTURERS ON CONSUMER SHELVES, HELPED THEM BUILD THEIR STORY/BUSINESS CASE TO CONSUMERS AND OTHER RETAILERS. ABOUT 30 FOOD MANUFACTURERS IN 2023 WERE IN THIS PROGRAM. THEY LEARNED HOW TO TALK TO CONSUMERS, TELL THEIR STORY, AND WORK WITH RETAILERS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS IN STORES. THEY ALSO LEARNED HOW TO PRICE BETTER AND PRESENT A PRODUCT THAT IS APPEALING TO CONSUMERS. PARTICIPANTS JOINED FOR A 12-MONTH PERIOD, DOING AT LEAST 2-4 SCHEDULED/FORMAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND TASTINGS FOR CUSTOMERS, AND PARTICIPATED IN AN AVERAGE OF 3 MEETINGS/TRAININGS AND CONVERSATIONS TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. THE RETAILER ALSO SOLD THEIR PRODUCTS IN THEIR STORE FOR THEM AND RETURNED 100% OF THE SALES PROCEEDS BACK TO THEM - HELPING TO INCREASE REVENUE THAT THE BUSINESS OF COLOR/WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS CAN REINVEST IN IMPROVING AND GROWING THE BUSINESS. 72103 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 15 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 MN X THE ORGANIZATION 6512619671 1136 GRAND AVE ST PAUL MN 55105 BRENDAN KURVERS BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MALA THAO TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 TERRI BARREIRO DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LORRENE OCCHINO DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KAYLA YANG-BEST PRESIDENT & CEO 30.00 X 48000 0 0 48000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 226959 226959 226959 0 0 0 X 21850 21850 24656 22191 1479 986 157 141 10 6 9039 8135 542 362 8371 8371 14446 13001 867 578 1379 1241 83 55 1805 1625 108 72 335 302 20 13 511 460 31 20 922 830 55 37 LISTING FEES 1824 1642 109 73 LICENSE FEE 655 590 39 26 PRINTING 106 95 7 4 BANK CHARGE 18 18 86074 72103 11739 2232 116463 30000 0 146463 0 0 X 116463 30000 0 146463 0 146463 X 140885 5579 X 0 0 0 X 226959 226959 226959 226959 226959 226959 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY LAWS WERE AMENDED TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF 501C3 APPLICATION - WHICH WE SUBMITTED IN JANUARY 2023 TO THE IRS. PRIOR TO THAT DATE, DOCUMENTS WERE SIMPLE LANGUAGE MEETING MN STATUTES OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ONLY AND TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL TAX-EXEMPTION, WE HAD TO AMEND THE LANGUAGE TO MEET GUIDELINES, AND ALSO TO MORE FULLY REFLECT WHAT WE DO. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B 1. A COPY OF THE 990 WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FULL BOARD PRIOR TO A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING. 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL REVIEW AND AT THE SCHEDULED MEETING - MAY ASK THE PREPARE OF THE 990 QUESTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS. 3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL NEED ACCEPT/APPROVE THE 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASKS FOR DISCLOSURES AT ALL MEEETINGS PRIOR TO TAKING ACTION ON MATERIAL ISSUES. 2. STAFF REVIEWS PAYMENTS AGAINST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FORMS/DISCLOSURES AND CONDUCTS DUE DILIGENCE ON ANY ENTITY WE WORK WITH/MAKE SIGNIFICANT PAYMENT TO. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 1. CEO AND/OR KEY STAFF PROVIDES DATA (SHOWING COMPARABLE POSITIONS) TO BOARD CHAIR IN ADVANCE. 2. BOARD CHAIR REVIEWS AND DISCUSSES WITH THE FULL BOARD - WITHOUT THE IMPACTED PERSON PRESENT. 3. BOARD CHAIR AND BOARD MAKES FINAL DECISION AND COMMUNICATES WITH CEO/KEY EMPLOYEE. 4. A CONTRACT/OFFER LETTER IS WRITTEN UP AND PROVIDED TO CEO/KEY EMPLOYEE WITH COMPENSATION AND DURATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G CONTRACT AND PROFESSIONAL FEES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 13,001. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 867. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 578. TOTAL EXPENSES 14,446. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: RETAINED EARNING AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR 5,579.