2021
IMPACT REPORT
Formerly Fashion & Compassion
TABLE OF CONTENTS 03
IMPACT STATEMEMT
04
OUR MISSION
05
ARTISAN JOURNEY
06
ARTISAN TRANSFORMATION
07
OUR IMPACT
08
MEET NORMA (ARTISAN IN USA)
09
FINANCIAL IMPACT
10
BECOMING BRAVEWORKS
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MEET CHRISTINE (ARTISAN IN UGANDA)
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LOOKING AHEAD
BETH BELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Henri Nouwen, theologian, once said, “Pay attention to the people God puts in your path if you want to discern what God is up to in your life.” This last year brought amazing people and resources into the life of our organization, allowing us to take the stirrings God placed in our hearts and grow them into exciting and strategic decisions. You made that happen. As we enter our 10th anniversary year, we look back through our history at the vision of our founder, Michele Dudley, and co-founder, Celeste Bundy. Our mission has always been to empower women, and our impact has deepened over the last decade. Our name was the perfect name when this organization began in 2012, and we are excited that the discussions over the last year helped us to see that it was time for a change. Our new name, BraveWorks, better reflects our mission and our why. Our goal continues to be to “serve better and serve more,” and we are so pleased to share the impact you made in 2021 and the ways that you continue to improve the lives of women and families overcoming trauma and injustice. Thank you,
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OUR MISSION Part of our strategic discussions included updating our vision and mission to better reflect who we are and how we serve. We are a 501c3 nonprofit with a bold vision to be a catalyst for God-inspired transformation through artisan enterprise, leading to abundant and purposeful lives. Our mission is to empower women and families overcoming trauma and injustice, bridging the gap from pain to purpose through: impactful connections inspired creations economic confidence We serve with an inclusive and faithful approach and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Our programs and projects take our artisans through a journey of transformation from pain to purpose.
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ARTISAN JOURNEY Our artisans come to us through partner agencies, having experienced painful situations of trauma and injustice, such as trafficking, abuse, addiction, incarceration, poverty, and persecution.
We teach women how to make inspired creations and works of art, a process that grows their self-confidence.
We create impactful connections for our artisans, bringing them closer to people and resources that empower them to achieve their goals.
Our artisans are paid a fair wage upfront for their time and/or creations; we assume all risk for whether or not products sell — all of which cultivates economic confidence.
Our artisans emerge from our programs confident and brave with a hope that propels them towards their purpose.
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ARTISAN TRANSFORMATION We help our artisans overcome the following barriers to success, and we walk with them from pain to purpose, towards new beginnings and a brighter future. 100% of our artisans face at least one of these challenges:
PAIN
PROCESS
PURPOSE
Economic insecurity
We pay our artisans fair market value for their products and time.
Our artisans, and ultimately their families, gain access to the economic ladder.
Emotional and mental health issues
We connect artisans with small groups, mentors, and mental health partners.
They experience a community that cultivates healthy relationships.
We help our artisans develop work readiness and financial skills.
Our artisans gain skills that are transferable to professional fields of work.
Language barriers
Our alumni, volunteers, and staff serve as ESL language support.
Artisans are equipped to communicate effectively in their community.
Isolation
We make relational connections and help artisans expand their social capital.
Our artisans emerge back into society with a supportive sisterhood.
Limited access to job training
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OUR IMPACT
585
13,000+
ARTISANS
INSPIRED
SERVED IN
CREATIONS
2021.
PRODUCED
493
$100,000+
ARTISANS SERVED
GLOBALLY
DIRECT
92
SUPPORT TO ARTISANS
91%
ARTI SANS SERVED LOCALLY
ARTISANS HAVE
41
MET OR ARE ON TRACK TO MEET
GLOBAL
THEIR GOALS
AND LOCAL PARTNERS
Other Nations 9.5%
LOCAL ARTISANS White 8.5%
USA 21.4%
Mixed 2.8%
Asian 32.4%
Middle Eastern 14.1%
Mexico 19%
Ethiopia 13.1%
Burma 27.4%
African American 14.1%
Afghanistan 9.5%
Our local artisans are diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, and religious beliefs.
LatinX 28.2%
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MEET NORMA Norma is a graduate of our USA-based artisan program. Originally from Mexico, Norma graduated from our program in 2019 and now serves as a leader and English language support for other BraveWorks artisans. Norma gained confidence through skill-building, developed a supportive community, and achieved her goals. She recently served as our guest speaker at graduation and continues to inspire and support our artisans.
"BraveWorks means hope. Hope to grow in my skills so I can make a difference in someone's life. I feel encouraged at BraveWorks. I can do more than I thought I could."
GLOBAL ARTISAN LOCATIONS
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FINANCIAL IMPACT -29% our The pandemic continues to impact consumer behaviors, which has impacted product sales. This is critical because the more products we sell, the more women we serve. We are eager to increase in-person gatherings to support more women and their families. We are grateful for both our donors and customers as we rely on fundraising to bridge the gap until our earned revenue grows.
WE BELIEVE IN FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY. Fiscal Year 2021 Form 990 | Fiscal Year 2021 Audited Financials
Fundraising 4.4%
Management/General 17%
EXPENSES
Total Expenses: $634,860
Programming 78.6% Faith Partners 11.1% Events 29%
Foundations 7.7% Individuals 9.4%
REVENUE
Total Revenue: $616,532
Misc 2.5%
Product Sales 40.3%
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BECOMING BRAVEWORKS
"This program makes me brave…I feel there is nothing that I can’t do!"
We are so thrilled to share our rebrand with you! Our mission has always been to empower women and families, and our program has evolved and deepened over the first ten years of our history. We are excited that our name is catching up with our mission; our new name better reflects our outcomes, our why. The women we serve emerge from our program confident, courageous, bold, and brave. They are transformed through the purposeful work they take part in and the works of art they create. Our new logo is beautifully complex and features a bridge visual in the shape of the "W" and signifies bridging the gap between pain and purpose. The "B" and "W" are connected in three places, because we are all about impactful connections.
The “stitching together” of the letters represents the physical and metaphorical aspects of the artisans working stitch by stitch, bead by bead, day by day.
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MEET CHRISTINE Atto Christine is an artisan from our Naguru Artisan Center. She is a mother of six children and a survivor of the war in Northern Uganda, which brought her to the slums of the city in Kampala. Christine joined BraveWorks in 2013 after the team brought her in, seeing the circumstances she and her children were living through. Since then, she has learned many skills, including paper bead making and soap making. Christine now has customers from all over, including Kenya. She has managed to pay school fees for her children and, in 2021, her firstborn graduated from the prestigious Kyambogo University in Uganda. Christine remits savings into our artisans' village bank account, which helped her to acquire a loan to start up another small business making ground nut paste and sim sim. This small business has helped to supplement her paper bead business and has ultimately raised her income. Through weekly trainings, Christine has healed from depression and trauma, all of which came as a result of the war in Northern Uganda. Christine is now hopeful for the future—she is brave, prayerful, and deeply rooted in her faith. We are so proud of her!
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LOOKING AHEAD Looking ahead to 2022, we are excited to think about the opportunity to serve better and serve more. Together, with your support, we look forward to bridging the gap from pain to purpose and leading more artisans to abundant and purposeful lives.
AN AFFIRMATION FROM OUR ARTISANS' OWN WORDS.
My hands are capable, and my future is bright. I am coming to courage, and I am finding the light. There is joy to grow and there is joy to give. I am building anew and beginning again. Transformed beyond the surface, I will heal from pain to purpose. Stitch by stitch, bead by bead, day by day—I am becoming brave.
THIS IS OUR WHY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. BraveWorks 1717 Cleveland Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203 866-278-6894 www.braveworks.org hello@braveworks.org
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@braveworks #wearebraveworks
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