SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ

Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
MediumBullet Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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OMB No. 1545-0047
2020
Open to Public
Inspection
Name of the organization
MERCY CONNECTIONS INC
 
Employer identification number

03-0369962
Return Reference Explanation
FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION MERCY CONNECTIONS IS AN EDUCATIONAL VALUES-DRIVEN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LIVING THE LEGACY OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WITH AN ENDURING CONCERN FOR WOMEN. BY COMPASSIONATELY NURTURING SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMMUNITY, PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES.
FORM 990 MERCY CONNECTIONS, INC. HAS ELECTED TO VOLUNTARILY FILE A FORM 990.
FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 2 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE CREATED TWO NEW PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND CLOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS: (1) A FOOD SHARE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED A WEEKS WORTH OF FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES; AND (2) A PROGRAM FOR RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION AND IN-PERSON CONNECTION THAT WE CALL CURBSIDE CONNECTED. BOTH PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO COMBAT FOOD- INSECURITY THAT WAS RAMPANT WITH OUR PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. CURBSIDE CONNECTIONS ALSO OFFERED OTHER ESSENTIALS LIKE TOILETRIES, CLEANING SUPPLIES, WARM CLOTHING, BOOKS, AND OTHER ACADEMIC MATERIALS, WHICH WE LITERALLY PASSED THROUGH OUR FRONT WINDOWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. CURBSIDE ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IN-PERSON CONNECTION WITH OUR COMPASSIONATE STAFF.
FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 3 WE MOVED ALL CLASSES, SUPPORT GROUPS, WORKSHOPS AND SOME TUTORING TO ONLINE TECHNOLOGY.
FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A MERCY CONNECTIONS EXISTS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE 75-YEAR HISTORY OF TRINITY COLLEGE AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WHEN THEY CLOSED THE COLLEGE IN 2000. IT BEGAN IN 2001 TO PRESERVE THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MISSION OF TRINITY COLLEGE AND INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE MOST UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS OF VERMONT. MERCY CONNECTIONS' MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMMUNITY. MERCY CONNECTIONS OPERATES THREE WELL- ESTABLISHED, ROBUST PROGRAM AREAS, WHICH SERVE 400 PEOPLE ANNUALLY. THESE INCLUDE: THE WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM (WSBP) IS A TRAILBLAZER AND LEADER IN PREPARING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO LAUNCH AND OPERATE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. VERMONT JUSTICE AND MENTORING PROGRAM MATCHES TRAINED WOMEN VOLUNTEERS (MENTORS) WITH WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM (MENTEES) AND PROVIDES RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL TO WOMEN TRYING TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION. EDUCATION & TRANSITION PROGRAMS (E&T) OFFERS A PORTFOLIO OF IN-DEPTH EDUCATION CLASSES, TUTORING, SUPPORT GROUPS AND A WEEKLY COMMUNITY LUNCH FOR WOMEN AND MEN SEEKING A SAFE, WELCOMING PLACE TO WORK ON THEIR GOALS, SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND POSSIBLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED WITH EVIDENCE-BASED, ADULT EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PRACTICES THAT MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND EMPOWER THEM TO MOVE FORWARD. WE WELCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND OFTEN ISOLATED AND ADHERE TO THE PREMISE THAT EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, DESERVES DIGNITY, COMPASSION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE PERSONAL ASPIRATIONS WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE CREATED TWO NEW PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND CLOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS: (1) A FOOD SHARE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED A WEEKS WORTH OF FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES; AND (2) A PROGRAM FOR RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION AND IN-PERSON CONNECTION THAT WE CALL CURBSIDE CONNECTED. BOTH PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO COMBAT FOOD- INSECURITY THAT WAS RAMPANT WITH OUR PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. CURBSIDE CONNECTIONS ALSO OFFERED OTHER ESSENTIALS LIKE TOILETRIES, CLEANING SUPPLIES, WARM CLOTHING, BOOKS, AND OTHER ACADEMIC MATERIALS, WHICH WE LITERALLY PASSED THROUGH OUR FRONT WINDOWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. CURBSIDE ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IN-PERSON CONNECTION WITH OUR COMPASSIONATE STAFF.
FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B A DRAFT COPY OF FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. A COPY OF THE REVIEWED FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD BEFORE IT IS FILED WITH THE IRS.
FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C EACH YEAR, THE BOARD IS ASKED TO REVIEW THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND DISCLOSE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. IF ANY BOARD MEMBER HAS A CONFLICT, THEY WOULD REFRAIN FROM VOTING ON THAT SPECIFIC MATTER.
FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION.
FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2020


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