Mission Amplified is a hands-on workshop series focused on applying technology to real-world challenges across our community.

Brought to you by the Microsoft El Paso Innovation Hub and Microsoft, in partnership with the El Paso Community Foundation. For more in-depth descriptions of each class, please visit: elpasoinnovationhub.org/mission-amplified

PART I: NOVEMBER 12, 2026 | STOP LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE

Most founders and nonprofit leaders don’t overpay on taxes because they’re careless. They overpay because nobody ever showed them the rules. This hands-on session changes that, in plain English and with zero jargon.

We’ll walk through the five decisions that quietly shape how much you keep: how your organization is structured (LLC, S-corp, or nonprofit), what you owe and when it’s due, how to handle contractors and payroll the right way, which records to start keeping today, and how grant money is treated at tax time. Using real-world examples and guided activities, you’ll apply each one to your own organization and walk out with a clear checklist of next steps. No tax or accounting experience required.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
• Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
• Location: Microsoft El Paso Innovation Hub 500 W Overland Ave, Ste 210 El Paso, TX 79901
• Please Bring: A laptop or tablet, and a rough idea of your income, expenses, and entity type.

Who Should Attend?

• Founders and startup teams
• Small business owners and side-business owners
• Nonprofit leaders, executive directors, and board treasurers
• Freelancers and independent contractors
• Anyone who has ever wondered, “What do I actually owe?”

PART II: JANUARY 28, 2026 | YOUR TAX GAME PLAN: GET AHEAD OF TAX SEASON

Tax season doesn’t have to be a scramble. This follow-up session turns what you learned in Part I into a plan you can act on, right before the filing rush begins.

You’ll learn how to organize your year-end paperwork, which forms to expect, which deductions and credits are commonly missed (including how recent changes affect software and product development costs), how to plan for quarterly estimates and grant income, what to watch for when you sell or hire across state lines, and how nonprofits stay current on annual filings. Through real examples and guided activities, you’ll build your own personalized planning worksheet and leave knowing exactly what to do next.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, January 28, 2027
• Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
• Location: Microsoft El Paso Innovation Hub 500 W Overland Ave, Ste 210 El Paso, TX 79901
• Please Bring: A laptop or tablet, last year’s numbers if you have them, and any questions from Part I.

Who Should Attend?

• Anyone who attended Part I, or who has a basic understanding of their entity and income
• Founders, small business owners, and nonprofit leaders preparing for tax season
• Organizations that received grants or hired contractors this year

Featured Speaker:

Part I and II are led by Joseph Torres, CPA/EA Firm Owner of Comanche CFO, a fractional CFO and tax practice that helps El Paso founders, small businesses, and nonprofits stop guessing about taxes and start planning for them. With over 16 years of accounting and tax experience across manufacturing, construction, government, and publicly traded companies, Joseph turns big-company financial discipline into plain English that owners can actually use. A U.S. Army Infantry veteran and El Paso native, he believes mission-driven leaders should keep more of what they earn so they can do more of what they love.