Georgia Watch

“This organization has members.”

“The form 990 will be reviewed in detail by the executive committee of the board and approved for filing, after which it will be submitted to the entire board for ratification.”

“The board reviews the compensation package of the executive director and has ultimate authority for approval or denial over the package as well as the retention of the executive director.”

“The form 1023, form 990 and other governing documents are made available upon request at the organization's office.”

“Cy pres - other income: the organization was awarded a $75,000 grant from the buckner v. Resource remainder fund and a $32,858.76 grant from the whitehead v. Ji financial, llc remainder fund from a class action lawsuit against a debt settlement company that took advantage of georgia consumers.”

“Briefly describe the organization's mission: our mission is to empower and protect georgia consumers on matters that impact their wallets and quality of life through education, advocacy and policy development. We work to influence public policies that positively impact consumers, safeguard consumer protections in the area of personal finance, promote access to safe and affordable healthcare, encourage fair utility rates and renewable energy options, protect the right to trial by jury and promote access to the courts.”

“4a) consumer education and advocacy programs- georgia watch worked in 2014 to educate georgia citizens, the media and policymakers about critical areas of public concern, including predatory lending, proactive financial management, identity theft, scam avoidance and energy issues. Georgia watch offers numerous educational programs designed to assist georgians with basic consumer protections, including getting access to quality healthcare options; managing personal finances more effectively, and lowering energy bills. Georgia watch staff members travel around the state to present these programs, which are constantly updated and expanded as needed. These programs offer tools that help consumers build wealth, grow assets, and avoid predatory practices such as payday lending. We also advocated in 2014 for consumer protections in debt adjustment for financially vulnerable georgians before the georgia house of representatives. Georgia watch hosted free consumer workshops at community centers, libraries, and with civic groups around the state, offered a toll-free hotline for individual consumer questions and dispute resolution, published a monthly newsletter and was featured over 100 times in national, state and local media through print, television, radio and internet news. Our work in 2014 reached at least 50,000 consumers in 100 georgia counties.”

“4b) consumer energy program (cep) our consumer energy program impacted thousands of georgians in 2014 through our advocacy for safe, clean, and affordable energy and through our consumer hotline and web-based consumer resources. We successfully highlighted the critical role energy efficiency and resource diversification play in mitigating the impact of rising energy costs from georgia power company's predominantly coal- and oil-based portfolio. We regularly intervened in matters before the georgia public service commission (psc) to promote investment in clean, renewable energy and the retirement of coal plants. In 2014, we engaged with coalition partners to develop strategies around state compliance with the epa's clean power plan. This proposed carbon pollution standard is very significant to georgia, home to some of the highest carbon-emitting coal plants in the country, which contribute to poor air quality and costly health impacts. We called on state energy regulators and georgia power to reduce harmful emissions while driving energy innovation, promoting clean energy job growth, and helping consumers save money on their power bills through energy efficiency.”

“4c) hospital accountability project/health access program (hap) in 2007 georgia watch created the hospital accountability program to promote increased transparency of billing practices at georgia hospitals, helping ensure affordable care for all. In 2012, georgia watch created the health access program to ensure access to affordable care for low income, under- and uninsured georgians. During 2014, hap conducted extensive research on advanced practice registered nursing in georgia and published a policy report on this important and underutilized segment of the state's healthcare workforce. In 2014, with two certified healthcare navigators on staff, we assisted thousands of families and individuals to understand their healthcare options under the affordable care act (aca) as well as provided direct enrollment assistance in the federal insurance marketplace to hundreds.”

“Explanation: the organization holds funds in trust totaling $218,865 on 12/31/2014, as stated in the organization's separate audit of financial statements. For income tax reporting, the funds in trust are reported separately on form 990-ez for georgia watch foundation, inc. (ein 26-1477073). Georgia watch foundation, inc. Is identified in schedule r.”

“Section 1.263(a)-1(f) de minimis safe harbor election georgia watch 55 marietta street nw no. 903 atlanta, ga 30303 employer identification number: 16-1639971 for the year ending december 31, 2014, georgia watch is making the de minimis safe harbor election under reg. Sec. 1.263(a)-1(f).”