Lalela Project Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Lalela provides educational arts for at-risk youth to spark creative thinking and awaken the entrepreneurial spirit. Through lalela's arts curriculum and critical messaging component, we ignite imagination and teach children how to map and manifest their dreams and goals, launching the possibility of a different future for themselves and their communities. In the western cape and gauteng, south africa, and in bulawayo, zimbabwe, lalela provides arts education to children grades one through twelve in a safe space during after-school and holiday periods; helping students navigate a clear path that is often cluttered with the hazards of extreme poverty.lalela's revenue consists primarily of contributions. It operates programs in africa and its administrative offices are located in New York, ny. The word "lalela", which in zulu means "to listen," is at the heart of what lalela project strives to do. By "listening" to children through artwork and music, we can learn about their challenges and dreams, and we can, in turn, provide critical messaging and creative solutions to help them reach their true potential. By activating whole-brain creative thinking, we aim to encourage children to dream about a different future and to provide them with the tools to manifest their dreams.the goals of lalela project's programs are to 1) listen to and identify key challenges in children's lives; 2) provide a safe place for children to participate in the programs after school, a time during which children are often without parental supervision; 3) provide relevant critical messaging through an interactive, culturally relevant and innovative arts curriculum, touching on issues, such as substance abuse, violence, gangs, and health; 4) provide creative opportunities for children to express emotions; 5) use art and music to cultivate imagination and "out-of-the-box" thinking so that children can envision creative solutions to challenges; 6) introduce and encourage art and music experiences as a tool for positive change in their lives as a healthy alternative to destructive behavior and environments, and as a practical application for academic and professional growth; and 7) train educators to use art and music to help children engage in age-appropriate, important discussions about their lives and to empower students with the tools of creative expression.we believe in the power of arts education to advance academic performance and to build the character and life-skills needed for more meaningful career opportunities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 95.7%; rating input score 96
• Program expense ratio: 70.4%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Pass
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -36.1%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.64; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.42; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 18.4%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.5% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1.8% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.7% per year; rating input score 0; 15th percentile among comparable filings