About

PROJECT PROPEL

ABOVE: Junior EcoGardeners learn

how to plant their own vegetable gardens

and the importance of

eating nutritious foods!

Project Propel is a registered 501(c)(3) international non-profit organization using an integrated and holistic approach to health and development.

We work with vulnerable communities--those at a higher risk of poor health because of social, economic, and environmental barriers.

Our work begins by deeply listening & cultivating relationships. Together, we identify health challenges and collaboratively, we design sustainable solutions.

By equipping community leaders with knowledge and skills, they emerge empowered, able to propel the community at large.

Project Propel promotes the entire health spectrum--from the individual, to the community, to the health of our planet.

MISSION

To enrich vulnerable populations through

education, health promotion, and sustainable livelihood opportunities while nurturing respect for our Earth.

Mission

VISION

P

R

O

P
E

L

opulations

eaching

ptimal

otential
mpowered &

eading

ABOVE: Members of an Urban EcoGarden in Manila, preparing vegetables from their garden in a community kitchen for fire victims.

VISION

Approach

An Integrated Approach to Development

Project Propel practices an integrated and holistic approach to development. We work directly alongside communities, forming relationships, practicing deep listening, and collectively reaching sustainable solutions.

Project Propel plays a supportive and encouraging role with the communities as they move towards health. We strongly support the initialization phase and training of key individuals while understanding the need for the community to retain a sense of ownership and desire to sustain the positive changes. A little nudge, or 'propelling' is what we wish to offer in order for them to harness the strength within their communities and seize their potential to thrive.

Ethos

Our Ethos

Project Propel is driven by five core values:

LISTENING.

RESPECT.

SUSTAINABILITY.

Deep listening involves giving audience to those systematically overlooked by the broader society. Through listening we better understand their unique struggles, setting the stage for a holistic & collaborative approach to development.

We maintain that we are visitors to remote or marginalized communities that are often 'off the beaten path'. We respectfully enter communities, tread gently alongside community members, and seek to always uphold dignity in every interaction.

We promote lasting change over immediate fixes. Sustainability is considered in all stages of program development. This is possible through education, strong local partnerships and empowering community leaders.

RESPONSIBILITY.

We are driven by a strong sense of duty to our own health, the health of our neighbors & communities, and the health of the environment in which we live.

Furthermore, we hold fiscal responsibility to our supporters at par with our responsibility to the communities we work with.

LOVE.

We truly enjoy and deeply care for the work we do and the relationships we build with communities.

Project Propel operates by love. To us, this means practicing kindness, compassion, and genuine concern for the good of one another and our environment!

Timeline

Timeline & History

A BRIEF SUMMARY

OF HOW

PROJECT PROPEL

HAS TAKEN ROOT

OVER THE PAST YEARS

2018

Project Propel begins WASH initiatives with indigenous communities and distributes Sawyer Water Filtration Systems (Courtesy of OC Grace congregation).
Project Propel becomes an official EcoBrick drop-off point
EcoWings livelihood program is established with help from Eianna Lontoc, University of the Philippines intern and partnership with Gleaning for the World.
First face-to-face board meeting.

2019

Amanda Barizo joins the team as Chief Operating Officer.
Project Propel receives support for agricultural initiatives from Rotary Club of Silver Spring -Kensington and University of Redlands Rotaract Club.
Project Propel begins agriculture initiatives with indigenous communities.
Project Propel starts constructing floating EcoBrick gardens.
Sales of EcoWings begin with local distributing partners.
Project Propel distributes EcoWings to indigenous communities as part of a BUY-ONE/GIVE-ONE campaign.

2020

'Eat Gulay for Buhay' health mural painting with local award-winning artist Jaynard Alpuerto.
Project Propel enters partnership with HELP International.
Project Propel provides vegetable relief distributions for COVID affected communities.
Project Propel receives donations of seeds from Hope Seeds.
EcoGardens program expansion to 2 new communities
EcoFarms projects take off in Tarlac and Bicol.
EcoWings livelihood program expands and launches online store.

2015

Project Propel receives $6,000 grant from METAD.
Establishment of 3 additional EcoGardens
Fresh Perspectives program is established
MediCab program is established

2016

Project Propel is granted 501(c)3 status by the IRS.
Founding board member Roberta Plantak relocates to Metro Manila and fills post as Program Director
Project Propel Philippine branch is registered with the SEC.
Partnership with GR3 International is initiated.

2017

Fresh perpectives artists paint 2 additional health murals with mural artist Sara Jayne Bleiweis
Children's book, 'Once Upon a Raincloud' is published by Fresh Perspectives artists in partnership with GR3 International.
Artwork from 'Once Upon a Raincloud' is featured in GotHeart Gallery exhibition.

2013

Elizabeth Lanning (Founder & CEO) establishes the first Urban Barangay Garden among a riverside community in Metro Manila as part of her graduate research project in Public Health.

2014

First health mural activity in Manila, Philippines
Project Propel is incorporated in the State of Maryland

Legal

Legal Status

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization in the United States

Project Propel is registered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization in the State of Maryland, in the

United States of America.

Tax EIN:

47-2655630

A SEC-Licensed Non-Stock Branch Office in the Philippines

Project Propel is licensed to transact in the Philippines as a non-stock branch office

of a foreign corporation under the Security and Exchange Commission Philippines.

Reg. No.: FN201621899

Local Government Permit

Quezon City, Philippines

Project Propel has a

Permit to Operate

with the

Quezon City

Local Government Unit

in the Philippines.

Permit No.: 19-006887

Registered with the Department

of Social Welfare

Project Propel is registered as an Auxillary Social Welfare & Development Agency by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare & Development.

Reg. No.:

DSWD-SB-R-000245-2019

FINANCIALS

Project Propel was established through the generosity of its donor family. As we grow, we continue to be grateful for every donation, no matter the amount! Donations to Project Propel are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. The Board has committed to spend 80% of the organization's income on direct program costs.

Project Propel filed IRS Form 990-N (e-Postcard) for FY 2015 until 2018 and IRS Form 990-EZ since 2019. These may be accessed at the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search : https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/

Search by - Organization Name
Search term - Project Propel

Project Propel has earned the highest level, Platinum Seal of Transparency with Guidestar.org Candid for 2022! Now, you can support our work with trust and confidence by viewing our #NonprofitProfile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-2655630

Financials