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1. A board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity’s operations and its staff.
The Board of Directors has six members which officially meet annually as required by law. Officer’s performance, finances, and events are reviewed at that meeting. When significant events occur, such as receipt of a significant donation or grant, or substantial change that could affect operations, board members are corralled for impromptu meetings. Board members see each other informally at lease once a week. This is appropriate for an organization of this size.
Note: MANAGING the Charity is very different from GOVERNING the Charity. Management involves day to day operation while governing involves setting policy. The Charity is managed with formal weekly meetings by its Advisory Board, Wednesdays at 2:00PM with minutes posted on-line as the meeting progresses.
2. A board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.
The Board of Directors has six voting members. The Advisory (management) Board has four voting members.
3. A minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation.
The Board of Directors meets face to face annually as specified by law. More frequent meetings are called as required. The managing (advisory) board meets weekly to manage operations.
4. Not more than one or 10% directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board.
This is an all-volunteer organization — no one gets compensated, directly or indirectly.
5. No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation.
No Board member, officer, or relative benefits financially.
6. Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization’s performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
Signed 12/2 at a special board meeting called for that purpose.
7. Submit to the organization’s governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
This is the same document as the Annual Report.
8. Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.
All funds are spent on program activities.
9. Spend no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising.
No funds are spent on fund raising.
10. Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities.
We try to keep at least $100 in the bank account, but all other funds are spent.
11. Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
We publish our financials in our Form 990 and on-line.
12. Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses
Published on web site.
13. Accurately report the charity’s expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements.
Published on web site.
14. Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
The budget is $200 for Office Supplies.
15. Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part.
We do not do solicitations other than occasional mention to participants that a donation box is on the wall.
16. Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes:
The 2010 “Annual Report” is being written at this time. Financials have been compiled by attendance and course completion certificates are still being compiled.
17. Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions.
The only website we have is this one. It contains all this information. We do have a FaceBook group but FaceBook severely limits the length of any posting.
18. Address privacy concerns of donors
Donor names are simply not disclosed without permission. It would be a good idea to place an opt-IN box on donation envelopes in case someone does want to be listed as one of our partners so they could request that they should please be listed.
We have a fairly decent privacy policy. Click Privacy in the menu.
19. Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services
We don’t sell products or services — with the exception of the Indiana Access to Recovery program which pays us a published rate for their clients, all of our services are free to the public.
20. Respond promptly to and act on complaints
Never had a complaint.