Diversity Council

“Many of our education programs are delivered by facilitators who are not employees of the diversity council. In addition, we occasionally need people to work on short-term projects. We have delegated the hiring and firing of these individuals to express employment professionals.”

“The organization posts the form 990 online prior to a meeting of the board of directors. At the meeting, our independent auditor reviews the audited financial statements and answers any questions about the form 990. The form 990 is approved by the board before it is filed.”

“Each board member, employee, and volunteer of the organization who has decision-making authority annually completes a disclosure form that identifies any relationships, positions, or circumstances in which the person or a family member is involved that could contribute to a conflict of interest. Such relationships, positions, or circumstances might include employment, ownership of a business, or service as a director or consultant to another nonprofit organization. The form is updated mid-year if circumstances change. Prior to a board action on a contract or transaction involving a conflict of interest, the board member, employee or volunteer having a real or apparent conflict of interest discloses all facts material to the conflict. He or she must abstain from: 1) participating in discussions or deliberations with respect to the subject of the conflict, other than to present factual information or to answer questions 2) using his or her personal influence to affect deliberations, and 3) voting and being present when the vote is taken.”

“The board of directors considers the compensation of the executive director in the autumn months as the budget is being prepared. All board members are independent persons and the executive director is excused for the discussion at a board meeting. The board reviews comparability data from the minnesota council of nonprofits' "minnesota nonprofit salary and benefits survey", which takes into account both organizational size and geographic area. Any decision relating to the executive director's compensation is documented in the minutes of the meeting. The organization does not provide compensation to any other officers nor have any key employees.”

“The governing documents and conflict of interest policy are provided upon request. Our unaudited financial statements are included in the annual report, which is 1) mailed in print form to all corporate donors and grantors 2) posted on the organization's website, and 3) available to the public upon request. The audited financial statements are posted to the organization's website and available to the public upon request.”

“The st. Paul foundation contracted with the diversity council to serve as convener of the racial equity minnesota network. The purpose of the network is to unite participating organizations in a collective effort to offer programs and services that result in individual and institutional behavioral changes, shifting the state to a culture of bias-free inclusion.”

“We restructured our program areas to better align our programs with our board's adoption of policy governance ends policies. The new program areas also better describe our programs, given how they have developed over the last 20 years. Instead of our previous program categories - education, collaboration, celebration, and communication - we now group our programs into youth education, adult education, and community engagement.”

“The board's finance committee recommends an auditor or a pool of auditors to the board of directors. The board makes the final selection of the auditor. The bookkeeper compiles the internal financial statements and documents for review by the auditor. The finance committee meets with the auditor to review the financial statements, as well as the auditor's findings and recommendations.”