Conservation Corps

“Christine goepfert, an officer and director of the organization, had a family relationship with jennifer goepfert, who is also a director of the organization.”

“Form 990 information is provided by conservation corps to our public accounting firm prior to the annual audit. The firm completes the form 990 and presents the organization with a draft, which is reviewed by the staff, finance committee, and board of directors. When the form 990 is approved by the board of directors, the form 990 is then filed.”

“Conservation corps maintains a conflict of interest & gift policy that covers all employees and board members who can influence the actions of conservation corps. This includes all who make purchasing decisions, all persons who might be described as "management personnel" and any one who has proprietary information concerning conservation corps. All staff and board members complete and sign a conflict of interest disclosure statement and a gift policy and disclosure form (1) at point of hire/accession to the board of directors and (2) annually each calendar year. These questionnaires are reviewed by the human resources coordinator if answers provided on the conflict of interest disclosure statement or gift policy disclosure form reveal a potential conflict, disclosure is to be provided to the executive director, or if he/she is the one with the conflict, then to the board chair, who shall bring the matter to the attention of the board. 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 who shall bring these matters to the board. The board or 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 conservation corps. The decision of the board on these matters will rest in their sole discretion, and their concern must be the welfare of conservation corps and the advancement of its purpose. Transactions with parties with whom a conflict of interest exists may be undertaken only if all of the following are observed: (1) the conflict of interest is fully disclosed, (2) the person with the conflict of interest is excluded from the discussion and approval of such transaction, (3) a competitive bid or comparable valuation exists, and (4) the board has determined that the transaction is in the best interest of conservation corps.”

“All board members are volunteers, therefore they receive no compensation. The executive director's compensation is reviewed on an annual basis by the board. The board uses the minnesota nonprofit salary and benfits survey, published by the minnesota council of nonprofits, to determine comparable compensation. Officers of the organization have a review on an annual basis. The executive director approves all compensation adjustments and the board approves the overall compensation for the organization during the budget process.”

“Conservation corps makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“In 2013, conservation corps engaged 15 americorps members (ages 18-25) in new summer programs in northern minnesota - 10 members completed fuel reduction work in the ely area and 5 members restored habitat in chippewa national forest from late may to mid-august 2013.”

“The arra funded superior national forest trail program, which engaged 40-45 young adults (ages 18-25) from late may to late august each summer from 2009 to 2012, ended in september 2012.”

“There has been no change in this process from the prior year.”