Citizens League

“The executive committee consists of the immediate past chair, chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, the chairs of any standing committees, up to three directors designated by the chair and the executive director, as a non-voting member. Its principal responsibilities are to plan, coordinate and integrate programs to achieve the citizens leagues strategic commitments.”

“Any person who satisfies membership criteria shall be eligible for membership and may become a member by submitting a membership form in which the individual attests to meeting the membership qualifications and provides contact information including a mailing address. Members consist of individuals, households and student/communities. Individual membership shall consist of persons who subscribe to the purposes of the citizens league and who pay the annual membership dues established by the board of directors. Household membership shall consist of multiple members within one household, including spouses and partners, who jointly subscribe to the purposes of the citizens league and who pay dues established by the board of directors. Each member of an immediate family shall be entitled to all of the privileges of membership. Student/community membership consists of persons formally enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate course of studies at an accredited public or private institution of higher education, or whose annual income prevents them from joining the citizens league at the individual membership rate, who subscribe to the purposes of the citizens league and who pay annual membership dues established by the board of directors.”

“Members elect the board of directors at the annual election.”

“The form 990 and schedules are reviewed by the executive director and provided electronically to the board of directors for their review and comment before being filed with the irs.”

“Board members, directors, officers, employees and study committee chairs who can influence the actions of the citizens league are all required to submit a conflict of interest form each year. Disclosure in the organization should be made to the chief executive officer (or if he/she is the one with the conflict, then to the board chair). Disclosure involving directors should be made to the board chair (or if he/she is the one with the conflict, then to the board vice-chair). The board, or a duly constituted committee thereof, shall determine whether a conflict exists and in the case of an existing conflict, whether the contemplated transaction may be authorized as just, fair and reasonable to the citizens league. The decision of the board or a duly constituted committee thereof on these matters will rest in their sole discretion. All proceedings are documented in the meeting minutes.”

“As part of each year's annual budget, funds may be set aside for employee base pay adjustments and performance base pay increases. The distribution of these funds in the following year will be based on their availability, the approval of the board and the performance of the individual staff member toward achieving their individual work plan goals. Staff base pay will be benchmarked periodically against industry-specific information in minnesota, e.g. The minnesota nonprofit salary and benefits survey by the minnesota council of nonprofits. This process will take into account the actual work requirements of each position, the citizens league position within the market range and the expertise of the individual employee. Performance based pay increases, based on the achievement of work plan objectives and board or executive committee approval of a budget for these uses may accompany the employee evaluation and review. This process was most recently undertaken by the executive committee in june, 2012 for the executive director, s. Kershaw.”

“Citizens league financial statements, budget reports and bylaws are available via the organization's website. The conflict of interest policy is available upon request.”

“Other contracted services: program service expenses 186,898. Management and general expenses 22,411. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 209,309.”

“The citizens league ended 2013 with more than 1,800 members. Members advance the work of the citizens league by providing the financial and human capacity needed to do our work and fulfill our mission. Over the course of the year we engaged individual participants in events and community gatherings, committee meetings, and other activities that supported the advancement of our mission: to identify, frame, and propose solutions to public policy problems; develop civic leaders in all generations who can govern for the common good; and, organize the individual and institutional relationships necessary to achieve our goals. During the 2013 tax year, individuals participated in our work and volunteered for a total of 13,609 hours. The citizens league tracks participation hours on a monthly basis by recording event and meeting attendance, committee work, and any other time that a non-staff member spends doing citizens league related work and activities.”