New York Coalition for Healthy

“New york coalition for healthy school lunches has its form 990 prepared by an outside accounting firm and has established the following review process to ensure that the information reported is complete and accurate. When the form 990 has been prepared, reviewed by management and is ready to be filed with the internal revenue service, it is electronically sent to the board members of the organization for any comments. Any comments are then grouped, summarized and provided to the outside accountants. Each issue is documented and addressed until the return is finalized and approved for filing.”

“The conflict of interest policy is applicable to all directors and officers of the organization. Immediately upon election or appointment to the board, all directors shall disclose any relevant interest which may pose conflict of interest questions for nychsl. Thereafter, upon the first knowledge by a director or officer that the board or a committee thereof is considering a transaction or arrangement with an entity or individual with which the person has an interest, the person must disclose the existence and nature of his or her interest to the board or the committee of the board considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. Annually, directors and officers are required to complete a disclosure statement, disclosing any actual or potential conflicts. After disclosure of the interest, the interested person may not participate in consideration of the proposed transaction or arrangement, shall not vote on such transaction or arrangement, and shall not be present for the consideration of or vote on such transaction unless the board or committee requests information or interpretation from the interested person. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting which authorizes such a transaction or arrangement. The board or committee shall then determine, by a vote sufficient for such purpose without counting the vote of any interested person, whether the transaction or arrangement is in nychsl's best interests and is fair and reasonable to nychsl. The board shall then make a decision whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement in accordance with such determination. In determining whether the transaction or arrangement is in nychsl's best interest, nychsl shall review available information regarding the cost or benefit of comparable transactions or arrangements, if any. The minutes of the board or the committee considering the interest of an interested person shall contain: - the names of the interested person(s) who disclosed or otherwise were found to have an interest; - the nature of the interest; - the record of any determination as to whether a transaction or arrangement was in the best interests of and fair and reasonable to nychsl, notwithstanding the interest, and the specific reasons supporting such determination; and - the names of the persons who were present for the discussions on the transaction or arrangement and a record of any votes taken in connection therewith.”

“The treasurer called a conference call meeting with the board chair prior to the december board meeting to discuss recommendations on executive compensation. Prior to that meeting the treasurer sent by email the basis of his recommendation which included performance of the executive director and the new york program manager, the financial outlook for the organization for the year and comparable pay levels as indicated in the guidestar annual compensation study. That discussion along with new financial information that came in before the board meeting was the basis for the recommendation for executive compensation that was presented to the full board in executive session.”

“The organization makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code. The return is posted on guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, the financial statements, conflict of interest policy, articles of incorporation and by-laws are also available upon written request.”

“The treasurer of the organization is responsible for the selection of the independent accountant and oversight of the audit. The process has not changed from the prior year.”

“Nychsf (dba coalition for healthy school food) is a nonprofit that works to improve the health and well-being of students across the country by advocating for healthy plant based foods on school menus and the reduction of animal and processed foods. We promote farm to school programs and provide education to create food and health literate students. In order to accomplish our goals, we partner with school districts. We are in partnership with new york city and ithaca, ny schools which serve as learning laboratories that help us help schools nationwide. We are in formal partnership with the new york city department of education office of school food and nutrition services and work to increase plant-based entrees on their standard and vegetarian menus, and are the non-profit that suggested they add a plant-based day each week in all schools and as a result all nyc schools now have plant-powered fridays. We teach our curriculum, food unearthed, in partner schools, which includes providing a snack to the students each time. We provide training to the nyc office of food and nutrition services staff, family dinner nights, parent presentations, teacher trainings, and our visiting vegan chefs program in nyc. In ithaca, we have developed our cool school food entrees, and provide taste testing activities, provide our recipe specific curriculum cool school food in the classroom. We develop educational resources, exhibit at state wide conferences, and provide information and resources to the many schools, parents, and teachers that contacted us looking for support.”

“New york coalition for healthy school lunches also conducts business using the following d/b/a's: (1) coalition for healthy school food (2) hungry kids need healthy school food”