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: georgia watch received $135,649.54 in cy pres funds remaining unclaimed in the settlement of mcbribe v. Credit advisors. This award resulted from a class action lawsuit against credit advisors foundation for charging fees in excess of amounts allowed under the law. Georgia watch recevied a cy pres award of $54,480 from the case lunsford v. Woodforest national bank. These funds came from an unclaimed portion of the settlement of a class action lawsuit between woodforest and a group of bank customers regarding the bank's predatory overdraft fee practices.”

“Founded in 2002, georgia watch is the state's leading consumer advocacy organization, focused on issues that impact consumers' quality of life. Georgia watch is a non-profit, nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization that utilizes education and advocacy to help give consumers a strong ally to level the playing field with powerful special interests in the state. We work every day to create a georgia that is a model for consumer protection. Our work focuses on educating consumers and influencing public policies in ways that positively impact consumers. While we serve all georgia residents, we pay particular attention to vulnerable populations who most need a champion - senior citizens, low-income individuals, and communities of color - those who are most at-risk for predatory business practices and most burdened by the high cost of utilities and healthcare. To fulfill our mission, georgia watch works closely with the public, coalition partners, legislators, regulators, and the media to serve as an advocate as well as a trusted resource for information and guidance. All georgia watch activities are managed and overseen by its staff and board of directors.”

“Briefly describe the organization's mission: our mission is to protect and empower georgia consumers on matters that impact their quality of life through education, advocacy and policy development. We focus our attention on communities that need a champion, particularly those most affected by predatory business practices and the high cost of utilities and healthcare. We work to ensure access to safe, quality, affordable healthcare, safeguard consumer protections in personal finance, encourage fair utility rates and renewable energy options, and protect consumers' right to seek redress in a civil court of law.”

“4a) financial protection and advocacy programs georgia watch worked in 2016 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; managing personal finances more effectively, and lowering energy bills. Georgia watch staff members travel around the state to present these programs, which are updated and expanded as needed. These programs offer tools that help consumers connect with resources, build and manage wealth, and avoid predatory practices such as title pawn and payday lending. In 2016, we released a secret shopper study examining the practices of unlicensed paid tax preparers in southwest atlanta. We advocated for greater transparency for consumers in tax preparer qualifications and fees. We also advocated against legislation during the 2016 georgia general assembly that would make title pawn loans even more costly for georgia consumers and urged the consumer financial protection bureau to issue strong federal rules against predatory lending. We also teamed up with the georgia attorney general's office to produce a comprehensive georgia military consumer protection guide to provide essential tools to protect those who protect us. This guide included information about avoiding and handling identity theft, scams and fraud. Georgia watch trained 68 individuals representing 50 organizations from 6 cities in georgia on our georgia consumer privacy curriculum in 2016. These trained trainers went on to conduct workshops in their communities and reached over 700 low-income georgians with information about how to avoid identity theft and scams. In 2016, georgia watch staff and volunteers gave 71 presentations, including free consumer workshops at libraries and community centers around the state, assisted over 90 people through our toll-free consumer hotline by answering questions and providing resources, published a monthly newsletter and was featured 58 times in national, state and local media through print, television, radio and internet news.”

“4b) consumer energy program (cep) through media and grassroots outreach, georgia watch raises awareness of public service commission (psc) proceedings and other energy issues impacting our state's environment, economy and utility ratepayers' pocketbooks. With a particular focus on assisting low-income consumers who are particularly vulnerable to the high cost of utilities, we develop consumer resources with tips on how to use less energy to save money on power bills, which we disseminate at workshops and through our website. In 2016, we intervened in georgia power's integrated resource plan proceedings to press the company to develop meaningful efficiency programs for low-income consumers. In a settlement with psc staff and georgia watch, georgia power agreed to dedicate $1.5 million per year for the next three years to a new energy efficiency (ee) program for low-income multifamily affordable housing and possibly adding up to $2.5 million of a pilot ee budget to low income programs. In addition, georgia power agreed to work with georgia watch to establish a donation program with retail establishments asking shoppers to purchase weatherization kit items and led bulbs to be distributed to low income homes through community outreach channels, including food banks. Georgia watch is a founding member of the just energy circle (jec). In 2016, we helped plan and participated in jec-organized community forums, incorprating our highly-valued, "how to save money on your power bills" workshop. We also participated with jec on the just energy summit convened in atlanta on september 30 and october 1. We also are collaborating with the southeast energy efficiency alliance (seea) to implement effective energy equity community engagement strategies. Georgia watch also engages with georgia energy efficiency for all (eefa) coalition partners and others in our clean energy and consumer advocacy networks to promote policies that expand access to clean, affordable energy accross the state.”

“4c) health access program (hap) in 2012, georgia watch created the health access program to ensure access to affordable care for low-income, under- and uninsured georgians. In 2016, georgia watch staff conducted 9 workshops and educated over 400 consumer and other stakeholders about improving access and value in healthcare. We educated consumers about reducing medical bills, researching doctors, and choosing safer hospitals through our toll-free consumer hotline and online resources. We led a collaborative effort with employers, public health, and advocates to promote healthier communities throughout georgia and develop common approaches to improve the accessibility and value of healthcare. We called on the supreme court of georgia to stop erosion of existing accountability for georgia's public hospitals by filing an amicus brief in a high-profile hospital open records act case.”

“Explanation: the organization holds funds in trust totaling $234,759 on 12/31/2016, 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, 2016, georgia watch is making the de minimis safe harbor election under reg. Sec. 1.263(a)-1(f).”