New York City Outward Bound Center Inc

“Wipfli LLP, conducts an annual audit of NYC Outward Bound Schools' finances and the firm of Gruber Palumberi Raffaele Fried P.C. prepares the NYC Outward Bound Schools 990. The process for reviewing financial statements is as follows: the NYC Outward Bound Schools' Director of Finance and the finance staff prepare financial statements and supporting documentation under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer. These materials are reviewed by auditors from Wipfli LLP. The NYC Outward Bound Schools' CEO reviews draft statements throughout the process and is apprised of any issues or concerns that may emerge. Prior to finalizing the audit, the Wipfli's partner presents draft financial statements to the Board Audit Committee for review. All questions raised by the Board Audit Committee are addressed. The draft audit and any changes recommended by the Audit Committee are reviewed by the full Board of Directors for approval. Documentation for the 990 is prepared by the NYC Outward Bound Schools' Director of Finance under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer. Gruber Palumberi Raffaele Fried, P.C. then prepares a draft 990 which is reviewed by the NYC Outward Bound Schools' CEO and Board Audit Committee.”

“The Chief Operations Officer is responsible for collecting all Conflict of Interest disclosure forms and does so annually. She maintains a log of all forms received and follows-up by contacting Board Members and Officers individually to ensure that they submit disclosure forms. The following excerpt from the NYC Outward Bound Schools' Conflict of Interest Policy describes the review process that takes place once forms are collected:(a) Prior to election to the Board or being hired, and annually thereafter, all Board members, officers and key employees shall disclose in writing, to the best of their knowledge, any financial interest they may have with NYC Outward Bound Schools. (b) A copy of each disclosure statement shall be reviewed by a committee comprised of the President, the Chief Operations Officer and the Chair of the Recruitment & Governance Committee, provided such persons are not involved in the disclosure of financial interest. If one of the above named reviewers is disqualified, a third reviewer shall be chosen by the remaining members of the review committee. A copy of each disclosure statement will be made available to any Board member on request. (c) If any disclosures are reflected in a completed questionnaire, a further investigation of the facts shall be undertaken by the reviewers and a report of the results of their investigation and actions will be made to the Executive Committee which may take such further action as they believe necessary or advisable.”

“The process of determining the Executive Officer's and key employees' compensation includes a review of the salaries of these individuals by the Board's executive committee. In doing so, the committee uses external data on comparable salaries including non-profit salary surveys and reviews of 990s from similar organizations.”

“The process of determining the Executive Officer's and key employees' compensation includes a review of the salaries of these individuals by the Board's executive committee. In doing so, the committee uses external data on comparable salaries including non-profit salary surveys and reviews of 990s from similar organizations.”

“NYC Outward Bound Schools' financial statements are made available to the public through our website (www.nycoutwardbound.org). NYC Outward Bound Schools also makes its governing documents and conflict of interest policy available to the public on its website.”

“Founded in 1987, NYC Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit organization that currently partners with over 70 public schools across NYC to engage students in accessible, immersive and joyful learning that prepares them to thrive in community, college and career. Our student-centered model integrates social, emotional and academic development (SEAD) all critical components of student success and we partner closely with schools to help ensure students have voice and choice in what they learn. We coach educators and school leaders to implement relevant and engaging learning into their classrooms and increase student sense of belonging through Crew, our signature advisory structure. We also provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills through our outdoor adventure programs.We partner with NYC public schools to create strong, supportive school communities where students feel they belong, are challenged to engage in complex and relevant work, and have a sense of agency. We do this through varying levels of support by implementing a whole-school approach to teaching and learning at our Network Schools, to concentrating on a more specific set of supports at our Select Strategies and Crew Initiative Schools.Together, our supports help students graduate with a solid postsecondary plan, prepared to thrive in college, career and life. In fact, students who attend schools that fully embrace our model are much more likely to graduate high school on-time, and to enroll and persist in college. Every day, we are proving that transformation and innovation can happen within a public school system, and that with truly accessible schools, all students regardless of background or circumstance are capable of achieving at high levels.For federal income tax purposes, NYC Outward Bound Schools is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization and is exempt under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and a similar provision of the New York State income tax laws.”

“We support our Network schools by providing:Coaching and professional development for teachers and school leaders in the implementation of EL Education, a whole school model with its roots in Outward Bound.Programming for students focuses on building essential social-emotional and academic skills through relationship building, collaboration, conflict resolution and self-reflection.Postsecondary support aimed at supporting our students most of whom will be the first in their families to attend college in applying to, enrolling in, and completing collegeOur schools achieved outstanding results. 94% of our students graduated on time compared to 84% of students citywide. Our graduates, many of whom will be the first in their family to attend college, enrolled in college at higher rates than the national average for the past seven years and 79% of our 2019 graduates who enrolled in college were still enrolled by their sophomore year.This past school year, we had 15 Network Schools: A School Without Walls, Brooklyn Collaborative, Channel View School for Research, Community School for Social Justice, Gaynor McCown, The James Baldwin School, Kurt Hahn, Launch, MAELS, MELS, MS 839, Leaders High School, West End Secondary, WHEELS, and the Institute for Health Professions at Cambria Heights which joined our network in September, 2023.”

“Typical Select Strategies partnerships involve between 12 and 30 days of support, which can include large group professional learning, individualized classroom-based coaching, and direct student services.This past year, we worked with 11 schools in the City supporting teachers to implement practices for which we have considerable organizational expertise: Crew, our distinctive student advisory structure, and Project-Based Learning, a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a culturally relevant, authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.Crew Initiative During the 2021-22 school year, growing out of our Select Strategies work, we launched Crew Initiative through which we are supporting over 50 NYC public schools in building the capacity to implement a Crew program and culture in their school. These Crew Initiative Schools work one-on-one with Crew Coaches and meet as a group throughout the year to work toward increasing a sense of belonging at their schools.”

“During our 2023-24 fiscal year, we provided Adventure and Team Building programming to 3044 students and 745 adults. By implementing a whole-school approach to teaching and learning at our Network Schools, and concentrating on more specific set of supports at our Select Strategies and Crew Initiative Schools, overall, this past year we partnered with a total of 77 NYC public schools to create strong, supportive school communities where students feel they belong, are challenged to engage in complex and relevant work, and have a sense of agency.”

“For donations in excess of $75, NYC Outward Bound Schools provides the donor with a written statement indicating the donor's deduction is limited to the excess of the contribution over the value of any goods or services received in return.”

“The Board Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of the audit, compilation of the Form 990, and selection of an independent auditor.”