Encounter Programs Incorporated

“The form 990 is completed with the assistance of our independent auditor and is reviewed by the executive director and deputy director to affirm accuracy. The form is then sent to the board of directors for review before submission to the irs.”

“Staff members sign the personnel handbook upon hire and are taken through each policy in detail by the deputy director to ensure recognition and understanding of each policy. They are then responsible for reporting any conflicts of interest as stipulated in the handbook. When new board members join the organization, they are required to review all board documents including the conflict of interest policy and then sign an acknowledgement to abide by them, including reporting any conflicts of interest to the organization. The executive director and the board chair and/or the governance chair regularly review board activity as it relates to encounter's work and invoke the conflict of interest policies as part of assessing whether a prospect is right for our board and/or whether a board member's activity constitutes conflict of interest.”

“Compensation for the executive director is subject to and pending approval from the board of directors, which used comparable data from similarly sized organizations in the field of jewish non-profits as well as those in the field of international conflict resolution. Notes are kept in board meeting minutes.”

“Documents are made available upon request.”

“While the jewish community continues to be one of the most influential stakeholders in the israeli-palestinian conflict, most american jews have never met a palestinian, nor seriously encountered palestinian narratives or perspectives. Influential segments of the american jewish community advocate for solutions to the conflict and educate the next generation about it in complete isolation from palestinian people and claims. This information vacuum perpetuates our failure to bring about real, viable solutions and furthermore, research demonstrates that simplistic advocacy efforts are driving away our next generation's engagement with the jewish community and their commitment to israel. Encounter exists to reverse and transform this reality. Founded by american rabbis and rooted in jewish tradition, encounter is a conflict transformation organization, equipping influential jewish leaders from across the political and ideological spectra with access to palestinian perspectives and claims on the ground. Encounter's flagship two-day trips and our newly launched leadership seminar bring jewish participants to the west bank on tours to meet with palestinian leaders in business, media, non-violence activism, education, and politics. Encounter also works with leading educators and alumni to revamp israel education so that our youth are more equipped and committed to act as informed change agents and less inclined to give up the "israel project" altogether. Underlying all of encounter's work is the core belief that innovative strategies for peace will be created only when influential stakeholders in a conflict have opportunities to meet one another, to open themselves to previously disregarded points-of-view, and to develop relationships across political and ideological divides.”