FY 2021 Annual Report

MOVING

BEYOND

INITIATIVES

OPERATION G.R.A.D, INC. GRIT.

RESILIENCE.

AMBITION.

Annual Report

DRIVE

MOVING

BEYOND

INITIATIVES

OPERATION G.R.A.D, INC. GRIT.

RESILIENCE.

AMBITION.

DRIVE

table of contents

03 04 06

Letter from the Chair Social Media At A Glance Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values

07

What We've Accomplished

10

2020 Philanthropy At A Glance

12

2020 Donor List

14

Financial Impact Summary

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 02

Letter from the Chair Dear Friends and Colleagues, The Time is NOW! Over the past year our country have witnessed several murders of unarmed black men via various media sources. This has been nothing new to me as a black man or surprising to us in the black community where systemic racism continues to stain the best parts of who we are as Americans. It is clear that our mission at Operation GRAD is critical now more than ever before; continuing to build mentoring programs and systems at our HBCU's to ensure the graduation of our young black males.

Our co-founders Dr. Darryl Hylton, CEO and Jaime Enge, COO have worked consistently and tirelessly to create and build a solid foundation for our 1st year as an organization. We are looking forward to working with our initial college partners this upcoming school year. (to be named soon!) Operation GRAD's quarterly publication of the "Educated Mentor" has been growing in amazing content and subscribers.

We are committed as a Board and Staff to creating some major funding sources this new fiscal year, through partnerships in higher education and corporations.

These partnerships will allow us to support our initial mentoring programs on the campuses of our new college partners.

Stay tuned and thank you for your continued support!

Derek Canty Board President

03

Social Media AT A GLANCE

04

390 2,261

African-American males are 2x less likely to graduate from college than their White male classmates.

Meaning, accessing college is only one of many obstacles an African-American student faces. Despite this knowledge, there is minimal support and resources to address this issue. We are here to help change this narrative!

05

OUR VISION With over 25 years combined experience in mentoring, our cofounders are committed student success!

100+ students have been mentored by our Co-Founders.

Students have enrolled and graduated from over 40 colleges/universities across the nation.

. . . to be the leading mentoring organization to help Black males graduate from college

CORE VALUES Commitment Community Diversity Education Integrity

Operation G.R.A.D intentionally brings multiple communities and identities of Black men together and supports them throughout their entire collegiate experience as they work towards success.

06

What We've Accomplished throughout the year.

Operation G.R.A.D, Inc. was founded Received Articles of Incorporation

Developed various social media accounts

February

April

Opened business bank account

2020

March

Obtained website domain

Published Volume 1, Issue 1 of The Educated Mentor Journal Initiated introductory conversations with college/universities Applied and received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

May

June

Identified target cities and colleges/universities

July/ August Established foundational relationships with potential donors

07

Our model equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to persist towards degree completion and become marketable for employers.

Co-Founders accepted for Top 100 Visionaries in Education Award @ GFEL

Facilitated #GivingTuesday campaign

September November October Published Volume 1, Issue 2 of The Educated Mentor Journal

08

Published Volume 1, Issue 3 of The Educated Mentor Journal

2021

January December

February

Continued cultivating potential donors and college/university partners

Celebrated our inaugural Founders Week Sent out our first partner college contract

Co-Founder, Dr. Darryl facilitated a 'True Colors' leadership personality workshop for Evolution of Leadership

March

April Published Volume 1, Issue 4 of The Educated Mentor Journal Co-Founders participated in a FY 22 planning retreat

Submitted Trademark Registration

May June FY 2022 Budget Approved Posted (3) new job positions

Co-Founder, Dr. Darryl participated in High School college panel

09

2020 Philanthropy AT A GLANCE

$23K+ Acquired in donations

201

Total numbers of donors

7

Gifts were made by organizations/businesses

194

Gifts were made by individuals

Donors

Thank you to all our donors this fiscal year.

With your help, we have been able to transform lives.

Donors with an asterisk '*' have made multiple gifts throughout the year.

Recurring Donors

Anthony Tillman* Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation* Brian Cousin* Cortney Edwards* Dajonna Richardson* Darryl Hylton, Jr.* Darryl Hylton, Sr.* Derek Canty* Donovan Perry* Gabriela Torres* Gregory Dendy* Jacqueline Illoh* Jamie Enge* Keyana Shyrier* Latanya Burnett* Nicole Spruell* Noreen Spruell* Pam Johnson-Davis* Renee Lyons* Rhuna Holley* Tymon Graham* Zachary Price* General Donors

Aaron Burwell Aaron Simmons Aidell Benyarku Aiden Benyarku Akiah Moore Alexis Buskey Alice Gilmore Alisha Abramson Amo Bias Angela Conyers Angela Moore Anita Bledsoe-Gardner Anonymous Anonymous

12

Anthony Gray Ariane Oree Arnold Singleton Ashley Stone Aurelia Daniels Barry Tyler Black Educators Connected Branden Hampton Brandi Taylor Brandon Jackson Briaun Rooks Brittany Boyd Bryson Bunns Bryson Rose Capital One Carnell Williams Catherine McGibney Cedric Gillis II Charda Fenner Chelsea Cromartie Chris Smalls Christian King Christopher Coleman Clarinda Carter Club 1964, Inc. Cornelius Williams Corts In Session, LLC Courtney Anderson Dana Warren DaQuan Love Darin Kenley Darius Brockington Daryl Newton David Sims Dawn Trebour DeAndra Drewitt DeAnna Pruitt Deja Thompson Delisa Green

Denise Smith Deon Rhode Derrick Wyche Deshavius Swint Devin Bradley Dollars 4 Scholars, Inc. Doretha Curtis Ebony Ford Ebony Granville Eddie Scott Eldrick Wilson Eva Walton Gabrielle Young Geleana Alston Gene Carter Gregory Ridgel Guka Evans Hezekiah McKinnon Iesha Gilliam Jacqueline Carter Jadia Artis Jalen Dumas Jalen Singleton Jalyn Wells Jared Lambert Jaron Dawson Jasmine Addison Jauan Darbin Jerome Simms Jerrell Hardy Jessica Brown Jessica Johnson Joel Olivo John Lee John Scheinman John Underdue Jonathan Bowser Joseph Johnson IV Joshua O'Bryant Joyclyn Carter

Kathy Wallace Katie Dudek Kenethia Williams Kenneth Alston Kenneth Goodall Kenneth M. Arnell Kevin F Canty Keyona Denton Khiasia Velazquez Kia Tate Kimani Anderson Kirsey Crawford Kristen Crockett Kristian Williams Kristina Lance Kyla Greenfield Lakeisha Satchell Lamonte Lans Lashonda Lee Lauren Robinson Leonard Shellman Leslie Graham Lina Jean Fritz Loubert Senatus Mai Maye Malik Peterson Marquise McGriff Marvelous Adegoke Marvis President Maulisa Washington Melissa Quinteros Melissa Vargas Michael Gemm Michele Tillett Nadine Spruell Nathaniel Thomas Oliver Lawrence Omezie Omeokwe Paris Thompson Patrick Harris Paul Chernick Phasha Spencer Rachel Oppenheimer

Pledge your support.

Join our list of donors.

Ramisha Ganatra Rashaun Beckett Razhede Highsmith Reginald P. Grigsby Renita Jackson Rich Up The Label Rickey Brown Robert Taylor, Jr. Rocio Siri Roland Reynolds Ronneisha Brown Sakina Richardson Sean Calloway Shannon Coleman Shaun Shaunsai Shayla Shaffer Shelby Tinsley Sheldon Maye Shirley S. Hylton Stephen Blount Stephen Harris Sumreen Ahmad Taeler Satchell Tamara Williams Tamika Gordon Tanesha Brown Tara Mathis Taya Gaskins-Scott Terence Walker Terrance McQueen Teunta Reed Theresa Atta Ifogah Thomas Paisley Timothy Hannapel Trey Kyanite Tyler Jackson Tyshia Seldon Vernon Swanson Veronda Rooks-Price Winston Wright Xaviera Vasser Yolanda Butler

Visit www.operationgradnfp.org/donate to get started.

13

Board of Directors Derek Canty

Board Chair Founder & CEO, Winning Edge, Inc.

Cortney Edwards

Board Member Paralegal, The Steel Law Firm, P.C.

Dr. T.M. Graham

Board Vice Chair/Secretary Chief of Staff, Kentucky State University

Dr. Darryl Hylton

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Taeler Satchell Board Treasurer

Jamie Enge Dr. Anita Bledsoe-Gardner

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer

Board Member Associate Professor, Johnson C. Smith University

FY 2021 Financial Summary Fundraising 13%

Admin Costs 47.9%

Emergency Fund 26%

FY21 Budget $19,200 Program Costs 13%

Program Costs 6.7%

Fundraising 9.2%

FY21 Actual $4,354

14

Admin Costs 84.2%

15

MOVING

BEYOND

INITIATIVES

OPERATION G.R.A.D, INC. GRIT.

RESILIENCE.

AMBITION.

DRIVE

. . . to help colleges/universities increase the persistence and graduation rates of African-American males through mentoring.

Transforming Lives Through Mentoring Visit us online: www.operationgradnfp.org @operationg.r.a.dinc Operation G.R.A.D, Incorporated (NFP) linkedin.com/company/operationgradnfp/