Powering Potential Inc

Energizing Learners in Developing Countries Since 2006

aka Powering Potential   |   New York, NY   |  www.poweringpotential.org

Mission

We use technology to enhance education and stimulate imaginations of learners in developing countries while respecting and incorporating values of the local culture.

Ruling year info

2016

Founding Director, President

Janice Lathen

Main address

PO Box 230973

New York, NY 10023 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

47-3046472

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

Employment Training (J22)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Lack of educational resources in secondary schools in developing countries that technology can provide.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

SPARC (Solar-Powered Access to Raspberry Computing)

A solar-powered Raspberry Pi computer lab with an offline digital library, a mobile projector and training.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

Where we work

Awards

National Award 2017

Energy Globe Foundation

Affiliations & memberships

National Energy Globe Award 2017

Open Source Initiative 2016

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of computer literacy/skills/technology courses conducted

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Young adults, People of African descent, Economically disadvantaged people

Related Program

SPARC (Solar-Powered Access to Raspberry Computing)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Because of Covid restrictions we were unable to conduct as many courses in 2020 and 2021.

Number of youth receiving services (e.g., groups, skills and job training, etc.) with youths living in their community

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, People of African descent, Economically disadvantaged people, Young adults

Related Program

SPARC (Solar-Powered Access to Raspberry Computing)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Because of Covid restrictions we were unable to serve as many students as usual in 2020 and 2021.

Number of program/model/intervention innovations

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Young adults, People of African descent, Economically disadvantaged people

Related Program

SPARC (Solar-Powered Access to Raspberry Computing)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Because of Covid restrictions we were unable to implement as many programs in 2020 and 2021.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Enhance education in developing countries by providing technology infrastructure (solar and computers), digital libraries and training.

We install solar-powered computer labs with low-watt computers and a digital library and provide training.

We have 15 years of field experience and a team of high-qualified professionals.

We have implemented 98 programs in 33schools in Tanzania and in 2019 we installed a solar-powered computer lab at a school in the Peruvian Amazon, led by a Fulbrighter.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    The students in the schools where we implement ourprogram.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Paper surveys, Community meetings/Town halls,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    We changed how we conduct our training workshops.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board, Our funders,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    It engages them more in the process of developing our programs.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time,

Financials

Powering Potential Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Powering Potential Inc

Board of directors
as of 03/05/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Matthew Cohen, CPA

Gettry Marcus CPA

Term: 2016 -

Gregory Obenshain

Verdad Capital

Philip Brandt

Deutsche Bank

Janice Lathen

Powering Potential Inc.

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/5/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.