2026-06-09T07:02:45-07:00 2025-12-31 034646832 SMHankins Consulting 103 seminole ave Waltham MA 02451 990 2025-01-01 273145250 AFRICAN CULTURAL SERVICES INC AFRI 271 Ridge Lane Apt 11 Waltham MA 02452 Juliet Najjumba Executive Director 7812981545 2026-05-25 1 Sarah Hankins P01781274 7818567165 2026-05-25 X 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Juliet Najjumba 271 Ridge Lane Apt 11 Waltham MA 02451 702231 0 X www.africano.org X 2010 MA African Cultural Services Inc., also known as Africano Waltham, is a community-based nonprofit organization serving African immigrant youth, families, and elders through culturally responsive educational support, leadership development, arts and cultural programming, food and basic needs access, mental health and wellness support, and intergenerational community engagement. The organization creates safe and empowering spaces where participants strengthen identity, leadership, academic growth, creativity, cultural connection, and long-term community stability. 6 6 2 20 0 0 586571 702134 0 0 0 97 0 0 586571 702231 0 0 0 0 110738 412250 0 0 0 401003 378961 511741 791211 74830 -88980 109382 20402 0 0 109382 20402 African Cultural Services Inc. continued expanding its intergenerational programming during 2025 by serving African immigrant youth, families, and elders across multiple Middlesex County and Greater Boston communities. Programs included afterschool educational support, Saturday enrichment activities, cultural arts training, youth leadership development, mentorship, elder engagement, food and hygiene distribution, transportation assistance, wellness programming, school and university cultural presentations, storytelling, and community-based performances. The organization uses visual and performing arts, cultural identity development, storytelling, mentorship, and community engagement as tools to strengthen confidence, belonging, leadership, emotional wellness, academic growth, and long-term stability among participating youth and families. 0 0 501111 0 0 The Africano Programming provides educational support to community members and their families by offering SAT support, homework assistance, and Saturday Enrichment Workshops where members also learn entrepreneurship, and the arts and humanities. 0 0 0 501111 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 32 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 MA X Sarah Hankins 7818567165 271 Ridge Lane Apt 11 Waltham MA 02452 Juliet Najjumba CEO/Founder 40 0 X 71721 0 0 Doroth Mugabi Managing Director 40 0 X 61060 0 0 Maria DiMaggio President 5 0 X 0 0 0 Allan Mugisa Treasurer 5 0 X 0 0 0 Laura Van Zandt Clerk 5 0 X 0 0 0 Ivy Natabi Board Member 5 0 X 0 0 0 132781 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 64098 638036 0 702134 0 97 97 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 702231 97 0 0 X 0 0 132780 61060 71720 0 0 0 0 0 215417 215417 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64053 0 64053 0 7198 0 7198 0 0 0 0 725 0 725 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14540 0 14540 0 228630 146657 81973 0 1017 0 1017 0 0 0 0 0 44896 0 44896 0 57977 57977 0 0 0 0 0 0 20000 20000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3978 0 3978 0 791211 501111 290100 0 39370 19246 70012 1156 109382 20402 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 109382 20402 0 0 109382 20402 109382 20402 X -88980 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 X 207821 411159 454816 586571 702133 2362500 207821 411159 454816 586571 702133 2362500 2362500 2362500 1 1 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The organization's Form 990 was prepared in collaboration with the organization's accountant and Executive Director. Prior to filing, a complete copy of Form 990 was provided to the Board of Directors for review. The organization discussed financial activity, major program accomplishments, governance practices, and compensation structure as part of the review process before submission. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 Compensation for the Executive Director and key leadership personnel is reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors based on organizational size, comparable nonprofit compensation practices, scope of responsibilities, budget capacity, and long-term sustainability. Leadership positions at the organization involve significant responsibilities related to program oversight, fundraising, community partnerships, supervision, operations, financial coordination, and strategic planning. Historically, leadership compensation remained below market value during the organization's early growth years, and compensation adjustments have been made gradually as operational capacity has increased. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Available on request Form 990, Part VIII, Line 1a During 2025, African Cultural Services Inc. expanded culturally responsive health and wellness programming through grant-supported partnerships and community wellness initiatives funded by institutional supporters and public health-focused grant programs. Wellness-related expenses included payments to clinicians, wellness professionals, nutrition educators, social workers, program facilitators, and culturally responsive service providers who supported youth, families, and elders through periodic workshops, support sessions, wellness activities, outreach efforts, referrals, and community engagement programming. Several wellness-related grants operated on staggered timelines and restricted funding cycles, including grants beginning late in the fiscal year that supported direct program implementation, participant support, transportation assistance, food access activities, and contracted wellness services Form 990, Part VIII, Line 12 Please include this growth explanation. During the reporting year, the organization continued strengthening operational systems, financial tracking, compliance practices, staffing structure, community partnerships, program coordination processes, and documentation systems in response to significant organizational growth and increased community demand for services. Africano Waltham continues to transition from a historically volunteer-supported grassroots organization into a more structured community institution with clearer systems, stronger documentation, and improved funder readiness. Form 990, Part IX, Line 7 The organization engaged independent contractors and community-based service providers throughout the year to provide specialized services connected to grant-funded programming and community initiatives. These contractors included licensed clinicians, wellness professionals, nutrition educators, artists, workshop facilitators, photographers, cultural trainers, temporary consultants, outreach facilitators, occasional mentors, and program-specific support personnel. Several contracted wellness providers participated through grant-supported health and wellness initiatives and provided limited, periodic services rather than ongoing employee responsibilities. These services included wellness workshops, nutrition education, therapeutic support sessions, culturally responsive mental health support, social work referrals, arts instruction, leadership development activities, outreach support, performance coordination, and participant engagement. Only the Executive Director and Managing Director maintained ongoing full-time operational responsibilities and fixed work schedules during the reporting year and were therefore classified as W-2 employees. Youth stipends were utilized selectively to support leadership development, arts participation, cultural performances, peer mentorship, outreach participation, workforce readiness, and community engagement opportunities. These stipends were connected to educational support, cultural arts programming, performances, workshops, and project-based community engagement activities. They were intended to encourage responsibility, leadership growth, skill-building, and meaningful participation in culturally grounded youth programming. Form 990, Part IX, Line 10 During the reporting period, the organization paid certain payroll tax obligations associated with prior-year payroll activity as part of ongoing financial stabilization and compliance efforts. These payments contributed to increased payroll-related expenses reflected during the 2025 fiscal year. Form 990, Part IX, Line 13 Transportation assistance and food support represented significant program-related expenses during the reporting year because many participating youth, elders, and families relied on organizational support in order to consistently access programming, educational activities, wellness initiatives, cultural engagement opportunities, food access services, and community resources across multiple municipalities in the Greater Boston and Middlesex County area. Food assistance, community meals, hygiene support, and participant stabilization efforts remained central components of the organization's culturally responsive community engagement model and helped reduce barriers to participation while strengthening trust and continuity of care. Form 990, Part XI, Line 3 During the 2025 reporting year, African Cultural Services Inc. intentionally invested in expanded program delivery, staffing stabilization, youth leadership support, transportation assistance, food access initiatives, cultural arts programming, and community wellness infrastructure in response to increasing demand for services across multiple surrounding communities. A substantial portion of organizational funding during the year consisted of restricted grants designated for specific projects, wellness initiatives, arts programming, participant engagement activities, and direct community support services. Because many grants were restricted to designated program activities, certain operational and infrastructure-related expenses exceeded unrestricted revenue available during the reporting period. The organization also continued addressing prior operational obligations and payroll-related liabilities while strengthening internal systems, staffing capacity, financial tracking, and long-term sustainability efforts. The resulting operating deficit reflected strategic investments in organizational growth, community responsiveness, and expanded participant support rather than a reduction in program activity or community demand.