Gateway Counseling Center Inc

“Upon receipt of the final completed form 990 from the auditing firm, the form 990 is sent to board members via email for review before it is filed. The form 990 is reviewed again at the june board meeting after it is filed. At the board meeting, the auditor from our auditing firm explains the contents of the form 990. Upon request, the corporate attorney is available to interpret the questions listed in the form 990 regarding the corporate compliance responses. The auditors explain the dollar amounts disclosed in the form 990 and how they tie out to the certified financial statements for the corresponding year. Board members are able to ask questions as the auditor representative advances through the document. The auditor, corporate attorney, chief executive officer and chief financial officer are all available to answer questions. The board of directors enters into discussion regarding the form 990. Once all questions are asked and answered, the board chairperson of the board of directors asks for a motion to approve and accept the filed form 990 for the corresponding fiscal year. The auditing firm makes amendments when changes are made at the request of the board of directors, if action is required.”

“Directors, officers, and employees must be trained annually at the june board meeting on the organization's conflict of interest policy. All members are trained and all must receive copies of the conflict of interest policy. A copy of the conflict of interest policy is signed by all directors, officers, and employees and is kept on file, attached to the june board meeting minutes. Any relationships are disclosed as well as in the nys consolidated fiscal report. The conflict of interest policy pertains to all executive employees and governing body member(s). This includes board officers (chairperson, vice chair, treasurer/secretary) and directors (other board members) and include additional executive "key" employees. Personal relatives of officers, directors and key employees are not key employees. The board of directors reviews and approves the list of personal relatives based on the type of relationship the person has with either the officer(s), directors(s) or key employee(s). This is done at the june board meeting. If a director, officer or employee knows or believes that they may have a real or apparent conflict with respect to any matter of the agency and/or under board review, that person must immediately identify and disclose the nature of the conflict from which they directly have a material or financial interest in and shall benefit or might indirectly benefit by receiving an element of value. Once disclosed, and the board accepts that a conflict exists; the director or officer involved excuses themselves from any board deliberations and leaves the meeting when the matter in conflict is being discussed. The board will decide on the conflict by taking a vote. Once the matter in which a conflict situation exists has been decided, and the following agenda item is called, that conflicted director or officer may rejoin the board meeting. Any decisions made are documented in minutes to that meeting.”

“The chief executive officer and other key employees salary is based on two factors. The first is a compensation comparability study conducted by an independent firm. The independent firm is contracted by and responds directly to the board of directors. The board uses the compensation comparability study as a guideline for determining compensation, though it may not be the only factor in determining compensation. The second is by closed-door board discussion and vote. New compensation studies are obtained regularly. The salary compensation is reviewed annually. The board of directors determines the salary compensations of all executive employees. This process was last undertaken in june 2023 and was documented in the board minutes.”

“Gateway counseling center makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code. The return is posted on guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, the form 990 as well as the financial statements, the conflict of interest policy and governing documents are available upon written request or by calling the organization directly.”

“Pension liability adjustment 547,825.”

“The organization has a committee that assumes responsibility for the oversight of the audit of its financial statements and the selection of an independent accountant. This process did not change from the prior year.”