Together We Bake
Empowerment is baked into everything we do!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Together We Bake’s workforce and personal development program addresses the community needs of poverty and recidivism. TWB provides high-quality job training services to women in need who are seeking to gain improved economic stability through employment. Poverty. Nationally, women experience greater income gaps versus men with similar employment status. Women make up 63% of workers earning the federal minimum wage. The 2010 U.S. Census found that men earned more than women across every industry category. Recidivism. Today, there are more than eight times as many incarcerated women in the U.S. today as in 1980, rising to nearly a quarter-million. Upon release from incarceration, only four in 10 women within their first year are able to find employment in the traditional labor market. Nationally, 60% of women in a longitudinal study of 23,562 formerly incarcerated women were rearrested and 30% returned to prison. (Deschenes, Owen, Crow; 2007)
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Together We Bake
TWB's innovative job training and personal development program revolves around a small baking business. The holistic TWB program has seven components. An easy way to remember the components is using the acronym F.I.E.R.C.E.
Food Handling
Team Members learn food safety and production skills. Team Members learn to create TWB products for sale including cookies, granola, dehydrated fruit and vegetable chips and trail mix. Team Members learn in an industrial kitchen.
Income Management
TWB provides financial literacy services to Team Members through a partnership with The Motley Fool, a national financial-services. Team Members attend sessions to learn budgeting basics and how to address and reestablish credit.
Executive Leadership Skills
Team Members practice leadership skills by supporting the business aspects of TWB. Team Members learn to update the company’s website, package orders, conduct product inventory, develop marketing materials, create social media content and assist with sales and product delivery.
Recovery from Trauma and Behavioral Health Concerns
TWB staff facilitate personal wellness sessions based on the "Houses of Healing" curriculum. The curriculum includes facilitated discussions and activities that help members gain self-awareness, self-esteem, and accountability for their actions.
Certification
The ServSafe Food Protection Manager’s Certification Course is recognized by the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation. Obtaining this certification makes TWB graduates more competitive for employment in the food industry compared to candidates without this certification.
Employment and Ongoing Support
Each Team Member is paired with a trained volunteer from the community who provides job counseling and assistance in finding employment. The volunteer Job Counselor and Team Member practice interview questions, identify appropriate job placements and complete online applications together. TWB also provides post-program support to alumni through twice monthly organized group gatherings, phone calls, and social media posts to a private Facebook page.
Where we work
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of program graduates
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Adults, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Together We Bake
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients passing job skill competency exams or assessments after completing course
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Adults, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Together We Bake
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of program participants who obtain a job within 3 months of program completion
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Adults, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Together We Bake
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients engaged in the criminal justice system in the last 12 months
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Adults, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Together We Bake
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The purpose of the program is to empower women facing barriers to employment to achieve long-term self-sufficiency, not in spite of the challenges in their past, but because of the strength they have gained by persevering through those difficulties. Program participants, called “Team Members,” gain workforce and soft skills that help them obtain and maintain employment. With the support of TWB staff members, Team Members learn and practice strategies that address chronic substance use and trauma histories, as well as mental health issues. By learning to manage these challenges, Team Members experience improved well-being and stability. The program goals are outlined below.
Goal: Increase the self-sufficiency of the TWB Team Members
Objectives
100% of Team Members will develop new and strengthen existing life skills through 8 hours of group attendance. Our empowerment and life skills curriculum provided significant skill development for Team Members. We assess this through a survey and group conversation at the end of the session.
100% of Team Members will improve their financial literacy through attending budget workshops through a partnership with The Motley Fool.
100% of Team Members will gain at least one new contact for their support system. TWB serves women who have a shared history of estranged and dysfunctional relationships. TWB’s empowerment groups provide the women a chance to recognize that there are other women facing similar challenges in life and in that shared experience, they find strength. Through addressing the impact trauma has on women and how to begin the healing process, the women start to trust again and develop strong bonds with their teammates.
Goal: Increase the financial stability of Alumni Team Members
Objectives
The median increase in monthly wages of graduates will reach $1000.00 or above within 6 months of graduation.
70% of Team Members will be placed in jobs within 3 months of graduation.
70% of Team Members will be in the same job after 6 months of being placed.
Goal: Increase the job-readiness of Team Members
Objectives
85% of Team Members will complete the training program and graduate. 85% of Team Members will participate in 15 hours of ServSafe Instruction.
85% of Team Members who take the ServSafe exam will receive a passing score.
Goal: Increase post-program support of Alumni Team Members
Objectives
90% of Alumni Team Members will not recidivate within 12 months of completion of TWB.
25% of Alumni Team Members living in the area will attend bi-monthly graduate dinners.
75% of Alumni Team Members will be contacted every month through Together We Bake staff.
Goal: Increase the employment opportunities for Alumni Team Members
Objectives
TWB will have 10 established Employer Partnerships by December 2020.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
TWB's innovative job training and personal development program revolve around a small baking business. The holistic TWB program has seven components. An easy way to remember the components is using the acronym F.I.E.R.C.E.
Food Handling
Team Members learn about food safety and production skills. Team Members learn to create TWB products for sale including cookies, granola, dehydrated fruit, and vegetable chips and trail mix. Team Members learn in an industrial kitchen.
Income Management
TWB provides financial literacy services to Team Members through a partnership with The Motley Fool, a national financial-services. Team Members attend sessions to learn budgeting basics and how to address and reestablish credit.
Executive Leadership Skills
Team Members practice leadership skills by supporting the business aspects of TWB. Team Members learn to update the company’s website, package orders, conduct product inventory, develop marketing materials, create social media content and assist with sales and product delivery.
Recovery from Trauma and Behavioral Health Concerns
TWB staff facilitate personal wellness sessions based on the "Houses of Healing" curriculum. The curriculum includes facilitated discussions and activities that help members gain self-awareness, self-esteem, and accountability for their actions.
Certification
The ServSafe Food Protection Manager’s Certification Course is recognized by the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation. Obtaining this certification makes TWB graduates more competitive for employment in the food industry compared to candidates without this certification.
Employment and Ongoing Support
Each Team Member is paired with a trained volunteer from the community who provides job counseling and assistance in finding employment. The volunteer Job Counselor and Team Member practice interview questions, identify appropriate job placements and complete online applications together. TWB also provides post-program support to alumni through twice-monthly organized group gatherings, phone calls, and social media posts to a private Facebook page.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Together We Bake was founded in 2012 to create pathways to self-sufficiency for women experiencing barriers to employment. Together We Bake’s mission is to provide a comprehensive workforce training and personal development program to help women gain self-confidence, transferable workforce skills, and invaluable hands-on experience which will allow them to find sustainable employment and move toward self-sufficiency. In the first year of operation, Together We Bake (TWB) piloted and launched a workforce training program that served 20 women. The organization steadily grew and in April 2015, TWB earned 501c3 status. In 2016, TWB acquired Fruitcycle; a successful business that turned “ugly” produce into healthy snacks. The integration of Fruitcycle expanded the product offerings and distribution channels for TWB products. In 2018, the organization expanded to better meet demand and began offering a fourth training cycle annually.
Since the organization’s inception, 189 women have graduated from the program. Eighty four percent of women who have started the program have graduated. Ninety percent of graduates have earned a national certification (ServSafe). Despite significant barriers to employment, 70% of all graduates were employed when surveyed in January 2020.
TWB has been recognized as an innovator due to the organization’s entrepreneurial design and quality outcomes. Senator Tim Kaine visited TWB to learn about the program’s impact on recidivism. TWB was included in The Catalogue for Philanthropy as “one of the best” small nonprofits and recognized by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce as the "Best Non-Profit of the Year" in 2018. TWB has also been featured in news outlets including WUSA’s Great Day Washington, NBC 4's Sunday program, WJLA's Good Morning Washington, Comcast Newsmakers, and NPR.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
TWB embarked on a Strategic Planning Process in Summer/Fall 2018 to map out the next three to five years of the organization’s growth and development. TWB board and staff assessed the current state of the organization and its external context, envisioned the future and developed key strategic goals and objectives. The priorities identified through the strategic planning process are as follows.
Focus Area: Grow Revenue Streams
Goal: Increase contributed funding and sustainable revenue, especially earned income.
Focus Area: Excel in Program Execution
Goal: Enhance program partnerships and recruitment, and explore program expansion and evaluation.
Focus Area: Enhance Post-Program Supports
Goal: Improve post-program services, including employment and education opportunities and extension services.
Focus Area: Expand Operational Capacity
Goal: Grow internal capacity through staff size, training, and effective use of volunteers.
Focus Area: Raise Awareness
Goal: Build TWB Street Credibility and raise awareness of pertinent issues at local and national levels.
Together We Bake is making progress toward each of these focus areas.
In 2020, Together We Bake (TWB) plans to recruit and train at least 50 women in need, along with
providing post-program support to at least 100 alumni Team Members. 2020 is another growth year for TWB
with a focus on deepening our program reach through piloting a Spanish speaking cohort and adding a Digital
Literacy component to the existing program.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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 inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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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, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2023 info
29.14
Months of cash in 2023 info
4.2
Fringe rate in 2023 info
15%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
Together We Bake
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Executive Director
Tricia Allen
Tricia most recently served as Chief Program Officer for the Economic Development Association for Black Communities (EDABC), where she crafted inclusive economic strategies and programs designed to enhance economic and labor market outcomes for African Americans and under-resourced communities. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, Tricia has a proven track record of driving organizational success, building, and leading diverse teams and creating innovative programs that maximize community impact.
Her accomplishments include creating a workforce development program for individuals facing barriers to employment, developing sector partnerships, active participation in national discussions on the Good Jobs/Job Quality Framework, and launching a business accelerator for BIPOC social entrepreneurs. She also played a key role in advocating for Baby Bonds policies and legislation.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
Together We Bake
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Together We Bake
Board of directorsas of 11/04/2024
Board of directors data
Erica Anaya
Lawyer
Term: 2020 - 2024
Stuart Allen
N Street Village
Erica Anaya
Lawyer
Nita Mohanty
Starbucks
Tracie Harris
American Physical Therapy Association
Zavin Smith
Schar School of Policy & Government, George Mason University
Marc Tanowitz
West Monroe
Ashley Gaines
Stearns Center, George Mason University; Adjunct Faculty, School of Integrative Studies, George Mason University
Heather Stouffer
Souper Girl
Emily Rouse
Capital One
Robert Brokamp
The Motley Fool
Erika Keough
SD Capital
Judy Huie
Freddie Mac
Matt Indre
Total Wine
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? Yes -
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
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/04/2024GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.