In Our Backyards Inc.

“The organization uses an outside management company, justworks employement group, a professional employer organization ("peo") as a co-employer. The peo was paid $18,568 in 2018 for their services. The two officers listed in part vii, erin barnes and brandon whitney are paid by the peo. Their calendar year 2018 compensation is reported in part vii, section a. Their 2018 w-2 compensation paid by the peo were as follows: -erin barnes: $95,000 base compensation and $8,357 non-taxable benefits -brandon whitney: $119,734 base compensation and $8,357 non-taxable benefits”

“In our backyards, inc. Has its form 990 prepared by an outside accounting firm and has established the following review process to ensure that the information reported is complete and accurate. When the form 990 has been prepared, reviewed by management and is ready to be filed with the internal revenue service, it is electronically sent to the board members of the organization for any comments. Any comments are then grouped, summarized and provided to the outside accountants. Each issue is documented and addressed until the return is finalized and approved for filing.”

“The board of directors has a fiduciary responsibility for ioby, should ensure legal and ethical integrity, and should always work in the organization's best interests. A disclosure statement is required annually. Staff are to report potential conflicts to the ceo. Board members are to report potential conflicts to the chair. A board member with a conflict of interest is required to announce it and recuse himself or herself from the relevant decision-making process. A written record is kept in the official meeting minutes.”

“In order to establish the compensation of the ceo and coo, ioby used a review of form 990s from similar organizations, as well as compensation surveys and studies. The board carried out this process in 2015 for both positions and compensation was set and approved by the board, as documented in the official minutes. Annual review of the ceo and coo is the responsibility of the governance committee of the board and compensation is reviewed annually at this time; the review is reported to the board. The changes are documented in the budget review and approval process.”

“The organization makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of internal revenue code. It is posted on the organization's own website (http://ioby.org/about/transparency), new york state attorney general website, guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, form 1023, the conflict of interest policy, articles of incorporation and by-laws are also available upon written request at 540 president street, 3rd floor, brooklyn, ny 11215 or by calling the organization directly at (917) 464-4515.”

“The organization has a committee that assumes responsibility for oversight of the audit of its financial statements and selection of an independent accountant. This process did not change from the prior year.”