Regional Water Management Foundation a Subsidiary of The

“The organization has four members (defined as a person, including a corporation, with the right to participate in the organization's governance or to receive distributions of income or assets from the organization): (i) community foundation santa cruz county; (ii) resource conservation district of santa cruz county; (iii) soquel creek water district; and (iv) county of santa cruz.”

“The community foundation santa cruz county shall appoint 4 members of the rwmf's board of directors. A committee consisting of the designees of the resource conservation district of santa cruz county, soquel creek water district, and county of santa cruz shall appoint the remaining 3 members of rwmf's board of directors.”

“The form 990 is prepared by an independent tax accountant in conjunction with the organization's finance and accounting staff. A draft form 990 is then reviewed by the treasurer; adjustments are made, as necessary. A complete copy of the form 990 was then provided to all voting members of the governing body after filing with the internal revenue service.”

“The foundation is committed to the highest ethical standards in all policies, procedures, and programs. The ability of the foundation to carry out its mission is enhanced by the involvement of the board of directors, volunteer committee members, and staff in the philanthropic life and economic affairs of santa cruz county. Given the role of the foundation in serving the entire county, it is to be expected that from time to time board members, volunteer community members, or staff may also have relations with existing or proposed recipients of grants, vendors, or services providers. To foster public confidence in its integrity and to reflect the foundation's intention to maintain the highest ethical standards by avoiding any real or perceived conflicts of interest, the board of directors has adopted for use a conflict of interest policy. This policy is available upon request. A summary of the key elements include: all board members, volunteer committee members, and staff are annually required to provide a list of nonprofit and professional philanthropic organizations with which they have relationships, as well as any relationship of immediate family members. They must also disclose any material ownership or investment interest with any entity that has negotiated a transaction with the foundation within the past year or of any transaction known to be currently pending or proposed. This information is collected by the project director and reported back to the board. In all situations in which there is a real or perceived conflict of interest, those individuals must recuse themselves from discussion and decision making that involves the parties in question. This includes the review, discussion, or decision of any and all grant proposals as well as the selection or contracting of vendors or service providers. Examples of potential conflicts in regards to the foundation's grantmaking include, but are not limited to: serving as a board member, employee, or consultant to a current or potential grantee; doing business with a current or potential grantee; or having immediate family members serving as a board members of the applicant organizations. Anyone with such conflicts must recuse themself from any discussion or decision involving those parties. If it is unclear whether a conflict of interest exists, the board president will make that determination. Any board member or committee member may recommend that the affected board member or committee member be excused from the meeting while the implication of the affiliation are considered. For all matters before the board where a real or perceived conflict of interest exists, the steps taken under the foundation's conflict of interest policy shall be noted and recorded in the meeting minutes.”

“The organization does not directly compensate any officers or key employees; rather, these individuals are compensated by community foundation santa cruz county, a related organization (which issues the w-2s). Accordingly, form 990, part vi, section b, lines 15a and 15b have been answered "no" as provided by the form 990 instructions.”

“The foundation, as part of its due diligence, commitment to transparency, and in keeping with the council on foundation's community foundations national standards makes available for public inspection at its office its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements.”