Consumers Research Inc

“Part vi, 11b 990 review process 1. The organization's executive director is responsible for the timely preparation of the form 990. The organization's executive director may confer with accountants and legal counsel of the organization with respect to drafts of the form 990. 2. Copies of the completed draft form 990 (including required schedules) will be distributed to the audit committee in either electronic or paper form for review and approval. Any questions or concerns will be noted and addressed, and management staff will ensure that changes are incorporated into the form 990 as appropriate. 3. Copies of the draft form 990 will then be distributed to the board of directors in either electronic or paper form for review and approval. Any questions or concerns will be noted and addressed, and management staff will ensure that changes are incorporated into the form 990 as appropriate. 4. After all input has been appropriately addressed, the final version of the form 990 (with required schedules) will be distributed to every voting member of the organization's board of directors prior to filing with the irs. The final form may be distributed either in paper or electronic form in any manner deemed appropriate by the organization's executive director.”

“Conflict of interest policy (abbreviated version, full version available upon request) whenever a director or officer has a financial or personal interest in any matter coming before the board of directors, the board shall ensure that: 1. The interest of such officer or director is fully disclosed to the board of directors. 2. No interested officer or director may vote or lobby on the matter or be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at the meeting of the board of directors at which such matter is voted upon. 3. Any transaction in which a director or officer has a financial or personal interest shall be duly approved by members of the board of directors not so interested or connected as being in the best interests of the organization. 4. Payments to the interested officer or director shall be reasonable and shall not exceed fair market value. 5. The minutes of meetings at which such votes are taken shall record such disclosure, abstention, and rationale for approval. Consumers' research ensures compliance with its conflict of interest policy through periodic internal monitoring of adherence to its policies and procedures and by having employees acknowledge and sign the conflict of interest policy upon hiring. Violation of conflict of interest policy may result in discipline, up to and including termination of employment.”

“Process for determining compensation (namely the executive director and key employees) review and approval by independent persons, comparability data, and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision market survey (geography) and salary history within that region. (1) an executive committee (comprised of members of the board of directors not employed by the non-profit) recommend the proposed salary of the executive director (or key employee) and the full board of directors independently reviews and approves the salary. (2) the executive committee uses comparability data, such as salary surveys from similar nonprofits (i.e. Similar mission focus, budget size, and geographic region). (3) the board of directors documents its consideration and approval of the compensation in the minutes of the board meeting.”

“Availability of governing and financial documents to public consumers' research makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request. Interested parties may submit a request through our online contact form located on the "contact us" page of our website (www.consumersresearch.com) or they may submit a request to consumers' research via email at [email protected].”

“Whistleblower policy (abbreviated version, full version available upon request) consumers' research seeks to have an "open door policy and encourages board members and employees to share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints regarding the organization and its operations with someone who can address them properly. In most cases, a board member or committee member should present his or her concerns to the chair of the board. The executive director is generally in the best position to address an employee's area of concern. However, if a board member is not comfortable speaking with the board chair or is not comfortable with the board chair's response, or if an employee is not comfortable speaking with the executive director or if the employee is not satisfied with the executive director's response, the board member, committee member or employee is encouraged to speak with anyone on the board whom the emloyee is comfortable in approaching or to directly contact the organization's outside legal counsel, whose contact information can be obtained from the executive director.”

“Document retention and destruction policy (abbreviated version, full version available upon request) general retention is 7 years, largely with the exception of permanent documents such as incorporation papers. Accounts payable ledgers and schedules, 7 years; audit reports, permanently; checks (for important payments and purchases), permanently; contracts, mortgages, notes, and leases (expired) 7 years. Correspondence (legal and important matters) permanently. Deeds, mortgages, and bills of sale, permanently. Depreciation schedules, permanently. Expense analyses/expense distribution schedules, 7 years. Year-end financial statements, permanently. Insurance records, current accident reports, claims, policies, and so on (active and expired), permanently. Invoices (to customers, from vendors), 7 years. Minute books, bylaws, and charter, permanently. Patents and related papers, permanently. Payroll records and summaries, 7 years. Personnel files (terminated employees), 7 years. Retirement and pension records, permanently. Tax returns and worksheets, permanently. Timesheets, permanently. Trademark registrations and copyrights, permanently. Withholding tax statements, 7 years.”