PLATINUM2024

Together We Bake

Empowerment is baked into everything we do!

aka Together We Bake   |   Alexandria, VA   |  www.togetherwebake.org

Mission

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. The program revolves around a social enterprise, a small baking business in Old Town Alexandria. 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

Ruling year info

2015

Executive Director

Tricia Allen

Main address

212 South Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

47-2543526

Subject area info

Human services

Population served info

Women and girls

Economically disadvantaged people

Adults

Unemployed people

NTEE code info

Human Service Organizations (P20)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

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

Tax forms

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.
  • 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

  • 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

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Together We Bake
Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
Financial documents
2023 Together We Bake
done  Yes, financials were audited by an independent accountant. info

Revenue vs. expenses:  breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info
NET GAIN/LOSS:    in 
Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Liquidity in 2023 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

29.14

Average of 29.27 over 9 years

Months of cash in 2023 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

4.2

Average of 11 over 9 years

Fringe rate in 2023 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

15%

Average of 11% over 9 years

Funding sources info

Source: IRS Form 990

Assets & liabilities info

Source: IRS Form 990

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Together We Bake

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Together We Bake

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

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.

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Operations

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

Documents
Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

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 employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation
Other
Related
Show data for fiscal year
Compensation data
Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.

Together We Bake

Board of directors
as of 11/04/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board of directors data
Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization
Board chair

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

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 ? 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/4/2024

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
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/04/2024

GuideStar 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

Data
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • 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.