Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

“Mr. Kenneth asp represents mn wheat research & promotional council. Mr. Ron obermoller represents mn soybean research & promotional council. Mr. John schafer represents mn beef council. Mr. Jerry hasnedl represents minnesota farmer's union. Mn wheat, mn soybean, mn beef, and mn farmer's union are collaborators on some of auri's projects. Mr. Federico tripodi serves in the at-large board memeber seat and has a business interest that has sought assistance from auri.”

“The form 990 is electronically sent to the board of directors for review and is then discussed and approved at a board meeting prior to filing.”

“Board members are required to sign a conflict of interest agreement upon being seated on the auri board of directors and it is reviewed and signed-off upon annually, thereafter. Auri requires board members to disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest with auri.”

“The auri board of directors conducts an annual evaluation/review of the executive director's performance. The board of directors decides upon and approves the compensation of the executive director with input from auri's human resources department. The auri human resources department looks at comparable data to substantiate the compensation, along with input from an independent company. The salaries, wages and benefits of all auri employees are included in the annual budget, which is reviewed and approved by the executive director and board of directors annually. All compensation of auri employees is reviewed by its human resources department and an independent party prior to hire and reviewed annually, thereafter.”

“Governing documents and conflict of interest policies are available upon request to the executive director. Financial statements are made publicly available at all board meetings and upon request to the executive director.”

“Auri partnered with grow north for an event in fiscal year 2020 in which auri agreed to pay for a $10,000 event registration platform and the cost would be split evenly amongst the two organizations. Auri receipted in $16,000 of registrations from the event and paid grow north $11,000. Auri acted as a fiscal sponsor for the event and incurred $5,000 for the expense of the platform. Auri has a collaborative agreement with sanos nutrition, effective december 1, 2017, of which auri employee jimmy gosse is a partner. Auri's agreement with sanos nutrition is not to exceed $150,000 of auri funds over a three year period. Auri incurs expenses and invoices sanos nutrition for their portion of expenses related to projects with sanos nutrition.”

“Contracted services: program service expenses 18,784. Management and general expenses 229,216. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 248,000. Other program expenses: program service expenses 434,352. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 434,352.”