2025-01-10T17:23:42-05:00 2023-08-31 RCS CPAS PLLC 4415 HARRISON ST SUITE 552 HILLSIDE IL 60162 990 2022-09-01 364305660 PROJECT EXPLORATION PROJ 3122734026 4511 SOUTH EVANS CHICAGO IL 60653 NATASHA SMITH-WALKER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 7738347614 2024-11-21 true false RODNEY C SCOTT P00733684 7084829488 2025-01-10 2022 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z X NATASHA SMITH-WALKER 4511 SOUTH EVANS CHICAGO IL 60653 1273272 false X PROJECTEXPLORATION.ORG X 1999 IL PROJECT EXPLORATION CREATES TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SCIENCES -- PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR AND GIRLS -- BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS, PRACTICES, AND MINDSET NEEDED FOR A LIFELONG PURSUIT OF LEARNING. 10 10 13 5 0 1176691 1171553 243694 101616 44 103 0 1420429 1273272 0 0 573923 738961 0 112288 710326 736094 1284249 1475055 136180 -201783 396534 396681 31504 233434 365030 163247 X PROJECT EXPLORATION CREATES TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SCIENCES -- PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR AND GIRLS -- BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS, PRACTICES, AND MINDSET NEEDED FOR A LIFELONG PURSUIT OF LEARNING. false false 378882 "DISCOVER" PROGRAMS SPARK INTEREST, AND ENGAGEMENT AND INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO A BROAD RANGE OF SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES AND TOPICS, AS WELL AS THE BASICS OF THE NATURE OF SCIENCE, SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY, AND ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS. EXAMPLES OF PROJECT EXPLORATION'S DISCOVER PROGRAMS: SISTERS4SCIENCE, BROTHERS4SCIENCE,STEM@HOME, AND STEM QUEST. 324756 THE "EXPLORE" PROGRAMS FOCUS ON SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES AND INQUIRY METHODS WHILE REINFORCING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND INVESTIGATIVE APPROACHES. EXAMPLES OF PROJECT EXPLORATION'S EXPLORE PROGRAMS: EXPLORE ENGINEERING,MEDICAL SCIENCES, AVIATION. 378882 CHICAGO STEM PATHWAYS COOPERATIVE (STEM CO-OP) IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING CRADLE-TO-CAREER PATHWAYS OF HIGH-QUALITY STEM LEARNING FOR CHICAGO'S YOUTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE IN- AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME SECTOR, AS WELL AS DEEP SUPPORT FROM STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN CHICAGO'S STEM LEARNING LANDSCAPE. 46088 ENVIRONMENTAL ADVENTURERS (EA) EA IS AIMED AT ENGAGING DIVERSE, URBAN YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, BIOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND ZOOLOGY SUBJECTS TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN RESEARCH IN A MEANINGFUL AND HANDS-ON WAY. THE PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM WILL DO REAL SCIENTIFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS WHILE LEARNING HOW TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH QUESTION TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS - SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STEM PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS AT THEIR HOME SCHOOL. PROJECT EXPLORATION HAS IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE WEST AND NEAR WEST SIDE, FAR SOUTH, SOUTH, AND SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AS PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS. THESE COMMUNITIES REFLECT AREAS THAT HAVE LIMITED TO NO ROBUST STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS OR WORKS DIRECTLY WITH CPS TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS TO SERVE. PE COLLABORATES WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS TO DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS TO OFFER. PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS - PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STEM PROGRAMMING WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND SERVE AS A COMMUNITY STEM HUB. PROJECT EXPLORATION HAS TWO PLACE-BASED LOCATIONS. THE WEST SIDE STEM LEARNING CENTERS AT THE GEORGE LELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2017. IN 2021, PE LAUNCHED A SECOND PARTNERSHIP WITH BETHEL NEW LIFE TO CREATE ANOTHER PLACE-BASED STEM LEARNING CENTER. EACH AIMS TO AMPLIFY THE VALUE OF STEM LEARNING IN THE COMMUNITY, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COHESION THROUGH FAMILY PROGRAMMING, AND BRING CITYWIDE STEM RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. 46088 1128608 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 64 0 13 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 10 10 false false true false false false false true true false false false true true true true true true false false IL X NATASHA SMITH-WALKER 3122734026 4511 S EVANS STREET CHICAGO IL 60653 JUDY LUBIN CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 DEBORAH WILLIAMS VICE-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 RENEE SCHOENBERG SECRETARY 1.00 X 0 0 0 NICOLE WILLIAMS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NARASIMHA RAJU NAGUBHAI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 HENRY CRAAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KATHERINE ACLES DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRIGITTE BOKEMEIER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHARMILA GADE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRYAN HUNT DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KELLI BEYER PATEL KEY EMPLOYEE 40.00 X 101104 0 0 NATASHA SMITH-WALKER EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 113671 0 0 214775 2 false false false 336876 834677 1171553 PROGRAM SERVICES 101616 101616 101616 103 103 1273272 101616 103 128057 25611 64029 38417 538245 474116 35916 28213 15635 11726 2345 1564 57024 42768 8554 5702 9350 9350 31243 3282 25177 2784 17074 14513 1707 854 8750 8750 39587 31669 3959 3959 31883 31883 20680 16544 2068 2068 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 306231 275608 30623 HONORARIUMS 80711 80711 PROGRAM EXPENSES 66550 66550 PROGRAM MATERIALS 54342 54342 69693 22418 18548 28727 1475055 1128608 234159 112288 69623 22248 137488 742 110580 326731 177093 130133 78843 46960 396534 396681 31504 33434 200000 31504 233434 X 95280 -161753 269750 325000 365030 163247 396534 396681 -201783 X true X true X true false X 657139 918950 1096797 1176691 1171553 5021130 657139 918950 1096797 1176691 1171553 5021130 1496623 3524507 380 20 21 44 103 568 5021698 841803 0.70190 0.72500 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 159408 112448 46960 17685 17685 46960 X 1348563 75291 75291 1273272 1273272 1550346 75291 75291 1475055 1475055 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X PROJECT EXPLORATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THERE WAS NO UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME NOR UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2023. EACH OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIOR THREE YEARS REMAINS SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EVALUATED ITS TAX POSITIONS FOR ALL OPEN TAX YEARS. BASED ON THE EVALUATION OF THE ORGANIZATION 'S TAX POSITIONS, MANAGEMENT BELIEVES ALL TAX POSITIONS TAKEN WOULD BE UPHELD UNDER AN EXAMINATION. THEREFORE, NO PROVISION FOR THE EFFECTS OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS HAS BEEN RECORDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2023. FORM 990, PAGE 1, ITEM B RETURN NEEDED TO AMENDED DUE TO CHANGES IN AUDIT REPORT FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION PROJECT EXPLORATION CREATES TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SCIENCES -- PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR AND GIRLS -- BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS, PRACTICES, AND MINDSET NEEDED FOR A LIFELONG PURSUIT OF LEARNING. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4D ENVIRONMENTAL ADVENTURERS (EA) EA IS AIMED AT ENGAGING DIVERSE, URBAN YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, BIOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND ZOOLOGY SUBJECTS TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN RESEARCH IN A MEANINGFUL AND HANDS-ON WAY. THE PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM WILL DO REAL SCIENTIFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS WHILE LEARNING HOW TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH QUESTION TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS - SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STEM PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS AT THEIR HOME SCHOOL. PROJECT EXPLORATION HAS IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE WEST AND NEAR WEST SIDE, FAR SOUTH, SOUTH, AND SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AS PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS. THESE COMMUNITIES REFLECT AREAS THAT HAVE LIMITED TO NO ROBUST STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS OR WORKS DIRECTLY WITH CPS TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS TO SERVE. PE COLLABORATES WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS TO DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS TO OFFER. PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS - PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STEM PROGRAMMING WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND SERVE AS A COMMUNITY STEM HUB. PROJECT EXPLORATION HAS TWO PLACE-BASED LOCATIONS. THE WEST SIDE STEM LEARNING CENTERS AT THE GEORGE LELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2017. IN 2021, PE LAUNCHED A SECOND PARTNERSHIP WITH BETHEL NEW LIFE TO CREATE ANOTHER PLACE-BASED STEM LEARNING CENTER. EACH AIMS TO AMPLIFY THE VALUE OF STEM LEARNING IN THE COMMUNITY, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COHESION THROUGH FAMILY PROGRAMMING, AND BRING CITYWIDE STEM RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 4 THE BYLAWS WERE AMENDED ON 8/16/23 TO CHANGE THE SIZE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO RANGE FROM 8 TO 13. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE 990 RETURN WAS NOT SENT TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS. THE RETURN HAS BEEN SENT TO CHAIR, TREASURER, ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS WITH ACCOUNTING OR TAX EXPERTISE, AND OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C MEMBERS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY CONFLICTS AND FILL OUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FORM ANNUALLY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A UTILIZED PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SURVEYS TO DETERMINE COMPARABLE COMPENSATION. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY LAW, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.