Foundation Fighting Blindness

“During the tax year, the organization amended its bylaws to extend board terms, allow for the election of an additional board member, and create the position of vice chair.”

“The sole member of ffb rd fund is the foundation fighting blindness, inc. (ffb).”

“Ffb elects the directors of ffb rd fund annually as needed.”

“Data to prepare the federal form 990 is provided to our outside accounting firm for preparation and guidance. After it has been completed, a draft of the federal form 990 is reviewed by the vp, finance, managing director, rd fund, and chief operating officer. With the coo's approval, the draft federal form 990 is then made available to all board members. A final draft is made available to all board members before filing.”

“In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person (including officers, directors, and key employees) must disclose, in writing prior to any discussion or vote upon a proposal, the existence and nature of his or her personal interest to the chair of the board and chair of the board committee considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. After disclosure of the financial or non-financial interest and all material facts, the interested person shall leave the board or committee meeting while the financial or non-financial interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board shall decide if a conflict of interest exists, and if so, whether there is a compelling reason to recommend to the board that the conflict of interest policy be overridden. A quorum is needed for voting and the vote to override shall be by majority and duly noted in the minutes.”

“Ffb rd fund's federal form 990 tax return and consolidated audit are available at its supported organization's website, www.fightingblindness.org. Other public governing documents including the conflict of interest policy are available upon request through the contact information disclosed on ffb's web site. These documents are available for the same period of disclosure as set forth in section 6104(d).”

“The foundation fighting blindness, inc. (ffb), a related organization, acts as the common paymaster for ffb rd fund. Ffb also approves and reviews any compensation to officers, directors, trustees and key employees of ffb rd fund in conformance with their compensation determination policy. Board members were not compensated for their service on the board, with the exception of the chair of the rd fund board, who was compensated in accordance with the rd fund board's approved compensation policy. Some rd fund board members also received stipends for serving on the ffb's scientific advisory board.”

“The foundation fighting blindness retinal degeneration fund's mission is to accelerate the translation of retinal laboratory-based research into clinical trials to expedite the commercialization of patient therapies.”