2025-11-12T13:35:28-07:00 2024-12-31 841104789 R Scott Burrows CPA 8177 S Lamar Ct Littleton CO 80128 990 2024-01-01 270909586 HUG IT FORWARD INC HUGI 8588882626 8177 S Lamar Court Littleton CO 80128 Zach Balle President 8588882626 2025-11-12 1 1 Richard Burrows P01056096 3039727200 2025-11-12 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Zach Balle 8177 S Lamar Court Littleton CO 80128 86770 0 X www.hugitforward.org X 2009 WY Hug It Forward (HIF) is a multicultural organization operating at the grassroots level in Latin America, with an emphasis in Guatemala. In fiscal year 2024, HIF completed 6 schools and an additional 3 schools were in the process of completion. As of December 2024, HIF has completed 149 schools. 3 3 0 150 0 0 207511 86770 0 0 0 0 0 0 207511 86770 117330 129501 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55736 67021 173066 196522 34445 -109752 270275 160080 443 0 269832 160080 X Hug It Forward is an organization that empowers communities in developing countries to build schools. Entire communities come together to make the dream of educational opportunity a reality, by using Hug It Forward's funding and expertise to build their own school. 0 0 159383 0 0 BOTTLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. In 2024, Hug It Forward facilitated the construction of 9 schools in Guatemala; 6 schools completed and 3 schools in process. Due to the method of construction, these schools are known as "bottle schools". Bottle schools are schools built using post-and-beam construction, with concrete columns and beams reinforced with rebar. The walls are filled with "eco-bricks" as insulation, made from plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash, which comes from their immediate environment. Entire communities come together to build a more sustainable educational infrastructure that replaces dilapidated, unsafe, and dangerously overcrowded schoolrooms, which are often made from adobe, corrugated metal, or cornstalks, with dirt floors. Before Hug It Forward issues any funding for materials, the community must show commitment to the project by creating approximately 75% of the bottles that are required for the school. A total of 7,500 eco-bricks are required for a 2-classroom school and 10,000 bottles for a 3-classroom school. Teachers and community leaders are responsible for organizing the process of bottle collection and overseeing the volunteering of labor. The local municipality contributes by paying for skilled labor, and the Ministry of Education pays for all teachers, ensuring that these institutions also have ownership in a sustainable project. 10487 0 0 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. In conjunction with bottle school projects, Hug It Forward facilitates an environmental education program for youth, working with communities that participate in a bottle school project. The program directly impacted approximately 1,700 students in 6 communities in 2024. Children work with the community to plant trees and collect inorganic trash and create the "eco-bricks" that are needed to build a bottle school. They build their school with their own hands, giving them real ownership and pride in the realization of the project. Environmental education is an essential part of the bottle school process, ensuring that the project's impact will be sustainable and that communities remain free of trash long into the future. Through the environmental education program, children learn to understand the difference between organic and inorganic trash, along with the major risks of plastic pollution in their environment and in the world. The intention is to leave a lasting impact, helping to grow awareness of environmental sustainability for future generations. 0 0 0 169870 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 X X Richard Burrows 3039727200 8177 So Lamar Court Littleton CO 80128 Dave Watson Chairman of the Board 5 X 0 0 0 Zach Balle President 30 X X 0 0 0 Adam Flores Secretary/Treasurer 30 X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 86770 0 86770 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 86770 0 0 0 129501 129501 100 100 650 650 18200 18200 1097 1097 1410 1410 5195 5195 Construction& Foreman Labor-Guatemala 14472 14472 0 0 Administrative Labor-Guatemala 13310 13310 0 0 Enviromental & Community Devlp Serv Labor-Guatemala 10487 10487 0 0 Staff Expenses-Guatemala 2100 2100 0 0 196522 169870 26652 0 270275 160080 0 270275 160080 443 0 443 0 X 7513 10347 262319 149733 269832 160080 270275 160080 -109752 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 X 60589 226152 99037 108474 62120 556372 60589 226152 99037 108474 62120 556372 556372 556372 1 1 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 Central America and the Caribbean 1 4 Program Services Below is an outline of a bottle classroom project cycle and the commitments that each stakeholder is responsible for: The local community members sign a 'pre-construction community agreement' with LEAS in which they commit to the following: * Fill out and turn in a school application to LEAS, HIF's in-country project executor * Provide the unskilled labor necessary to be able to complete the bottle classroom construction * Prepare the bottle classroom construction site by leveling the land up to an agreed height * Provide the sufficient amount of wood necessary to be able to properly complete the construction of new bottle classrooms * Build a retaining wall to protect the future bottle classroom structure if necessary * Provide and prepare meals for the municipal mason worker team throughout the duration of the bottle classroom construction * Provide adequate shelter for the municipal mason workers throughout the duration of the bottle classroom construction * Provide the municip 129501 1 4 129501 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schedule F, Part I, Line 2 As a U.S. based non-profit, Hug It Forward (HIF) partnered in third quarter 2022 with Asociación Lectoescritura Para El Aprendizaje Significativo (LEAS), a Guatemalan non-profit entity. HIF utilizes the LEAS partnership to enhance transparency, accountability and provide on-the-ground checks and balances for the receiving, documenting, and accounting of all bottle classroom project related material expenses. As project facilitators, we have a responsibility to our donors and communities we work with to ensure that we are doing everything within our control to achieve the most amount of positive impact with each dollar donated. Each bottle classroom project is a joint effort among the local community, the local municipality, LEAS, and HIF. Form 990, Part III, Line 3 As a U.S. based non-profit, Hug It Forward (HIF) partnered in third quarter 2022 with Asociación Lectoescritura Para El Aprendizaje Significativo (LEAS), a Guatemalan non-profit entity. HIF utilizes the LEAS partnership to enhance transparency, accountability and provide on-the-ground checks and balances for the receiving, documenting, and accounting of all bottle classroom project related material expenses. As project facilitators, we have a responsibility to our donors and communities we work with to ensure that we are doing everything within our control to achieve the most amount of positive impact with each dollar donated. Each bottle classroom project is a joint effort among the local community, the local municipality, LEAS, and HIF. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 2 Zach Balle and Adam Flores work together part-time in a travel business known as Serve the World Today, LLC Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 6 The officers listed in Part VII herein are also the members of the organization Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7a The Members of the organization have exclusive authority to appoint additional members, officers, or directors of the organization by a simple majority vote. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Hug it Forward's Board of Directors have been involved with the preparation of Form 990 and its Schedules from the beginning of the process. Drafts of the Form and its Schedules have been circulated to all Directors and discussed by all Directors at Board meetings. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Hug it Forward officers and directors work closely throughout the year and consistently monitor compliance with policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 16b These documents are available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 These documents are available to the public upon request.