Roswell Park Alliance Foundation

“Board Members Anne D. Gioia, Secretary, and Donna M. Gioia are sisters-in-law. Board Members William Gacioch and Michael Gacioch are father and son.”

“The Form 990 is prepared by the Foundation's management. It is then shared with the Foundation's external auditor for substantive review and signature. After incorporating auditor comments into the Form 990, it is provided to each Foundation Board Member for their review. A meeting is held between management and the Finance Committee to review the document, highlight select Parts and Schedules, and answer any questions the Board Members may have. All Board Members are invited to attend the Finance Committee meeting. After incorporating Board Member comments into the Form 990, the final version is sent to each Board Member along with a memo from management and the Finance Committee Chair summarizing the discussion at the meeting with management. This review process is conducted prior to filing.”

“Prior to joining the board, and then on an annual basis, each Foundation Board Member completes a Conflict of Interest Disclosure form which is submitted to the Chair of the Executive Committee. Should a conflict or possible conflict arise or be discovered during the year, the Board Member must update the Conflict of Interest Disclosure at that time. In addition, throughout the year, the Executive Director monitors proposed or ongoing transactions at the Foundation (e.g. contracts with vendors and collaborations with third parties) for conflicts of interest and discloses them to the Chair of the Executive Committee. Upon receipt of a conflict of interest disclosure by a Board Member or the Executive Director, identifying actual or potential conflicts, the Chair of the Executive Committee shall convene a meeting of that Committee to review the facts and circumstances involved. The Committee shall prepare a written recommendation to the Board as to whether the transaction is fair and reasonable and should be authorized. The Board Chair shall determine whether a special Board meeting is required or whether the matter can be reviewed and resolved at the next scheduled meeting. The Board may authorize the transaction by approval of 75% of the Board without counting the Member who is the subject of the potential conflict.”

“Annual compensation for all Foundation employees, including the top management official, officers and key employees, is reviewed each year by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors as part of the annual budget approval process. Comparable compensation data for similar positions at similar organizations is reviewed prior to setting the compensation for each position. The individual employee's job performance is also considered. This process was last undertaken in January 2025 for each employee.”

“The Foundation's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available to the public upon request. The Form 990, related schedules, and financial statements are also available on the Foundation's website.”

“Cindy Eller, the Executive Director of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, is also the Senior Vice President of Development at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Ms. Eller spends approximately 23 hours in a 40 hour work week on the Foundation and 17 hours on administrative responsibilities for the Cancer Center. Based on the time allocated to each entity, Ms. Eller's total compensation and benefits are allocated accordingly to the Foundation and the Cancer Center.”

“Per the Form 990 instructions, the net income or (loss) from fundraising events is calculated as the difference between gross income and direct expenses. The majority of events, including our largest event, The Ride for Roswell, are peer-to-peer fundraising events with a minimal registration fee per participant (i.e. gross income). However in the current year, they generated $8,953,655 in contributions in addition to $126,427 of gross income. Net of direct expenses of $1,523,824 this results in $7,556,258 to support the Foundation's mission.”

“Schedule O contains a response or note to lines in Part III.”

“The Foundation evaluated the related party criteria specified in the Form 990 instructions, particularly with respect to its relationship to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (the Cancer Center). The Foundation concluded that none of the relationship or control criteria, as specified in the Form 990 and Schedule R instructions, applied to the evaluation of the relationship existing between the Foundation and the Cancer Center. However, in our judgment, the unique fact pattern related to this situation and the historically close working relationship between the two organizations merits the Foundation disclosing the Cancer Center as a related party and accordingly disclosing the nature and amount of transactions between the two parties in Schedule R. Some of the unique facts and circumstances are that the Foundation exists to support the clinical and scientific purposes of the Cancer Center, the Foundation is recognized in the community as the fundraising arm of the Cancer Center, and both share a common mission - understanding, preventing and curing cancer.”

“Other changes in net assets or fund balances of ($184,120) equals the sum of uncollectible pledges of ($116,280), and the actuarial losses on annuity obligations and change in value of split-interest agreements of ($67,840).”

“U.S. GAAP requires the inclusion within Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's financial statements the financial statements of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation as a component unit based on the nature and significance of the Cancer Center's relationship with the Foundation. The component unit information in the consolidated financial statements includes the financial data of the Cancer Center's discretely presented component unit. The Foundation is reported separately to emphasize that they are legally separate from the Cancer Center.”

“Neither the process for the oversight of the audit nor the selection of the independent accountant has changed from the prior year.”