Alliance for Community Research

“Alliance for community research engagement and support (acres) is the continuation of an existing effort to bring together charitable federally qualified health centers (fqhcs) to collaboratively pursue their charitable missions by better serving their disadvantaged patients with improved health care, better information, coordination, division of labor, and efficiency. Building on initial relationships in sharing health information technology infrastructure to support care delivery through a limited liability partnership, chief executive officers of four chicago based community health centers came together as a founding board to establish acres as a not for profit entity to leverage shared infrastructure to carry out research, collaborative learning and education and innovations in use of technology, data analytics, and care delivery. Subsequently, the collaboration expanded to include health centers who are part of a similar network-based in southern florida, health choice network of florida, inc. Together the two networks engage more than 120 not-for-profit health centers operating more than 800 delivery sites and serving close to 8 million highly diverse patients. The current board of directors of acres holds top leadership positions in ten 501(c)(3) organizations, including eight fqhcs, throughout the united states. All of the participating entities have a longstanding history of collaboration in developing core services that can be more broadly shared to support not-for-profit safety net health care organizations sharing similar visions and service missions.”

“The founding members are heartland alliance health; howard brown health center, erie family health center; and near north health services corporation. In 2019, the corporation amended its bylaws to admit six new corporate members: alliancechicago, an illinois not-for-profit corporation; health choice network of florida, inc. (hcn), a florida not-for-profit corporation; and four federally qualified health centers throughout the united states: family health centers of southwest florida; community health centers of pinellas; providence community health centers; and west hawaii community health center.”

“Existing members of the corporation may select additional members, but any member must be a not-for-profit corporation that is a charitable organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. Each member is entitled to one vote and the act of the majority of the members shall be the act of the members.”

“Existing members of the corporation must approve amendment to the corporation's by-laws, amendment to the corporation's articles of incorporation, and any merger, consolidation, or dissolution of the corporation. Each member is entitled to one vote and the act of the majority of the members shall be the act of the members.”

“The board retains the services of an independent cpa firm to prepare/review the organization's form 990. Management reviews the completed form 990 and provides a full copy to the all voting members of the governing body prior to filing. The governing body is provided a reasonable amount of time to review the return and ask any questions directly to organization management or the contact at the independent cpa firm prior to filing.”

“Not less than annually, each director shall complete, sign and return to the chair of the board or such other party designed by the board, a conflict of interest disclosure form. Submission of the signed conflict of interest disclosure form constitutes the director's certification that he or she has reviewed and complied with alliancechicago's conflict of interest policy, and has disclosed any business, philanthropic or personal affiliations by him or her (including, but not limited to employment relationships, material financial interests, membership on boards of directors and advisory boards). Submission of the disclosure forms occurs at or before the annual meeting of the board of directors of the corporation. The conflict of interest policy is reviewed annually by the board of directors and any recommendation of changes to the policy are communicated at that time.”

“Compensation of the organization's ceo is determined by a related organization, alliancechicago. The alliancechicago board of directors is accountable for approving the ceo's compensation package, as well as the compensation of all other officers or key employees of the organization through its review and approval responsibilities of the organization's annual budget and mid-year reforecast. The organization utilizes publicly available salary guides and market compensation information to evaluate salary ranges by position on a bi-annual basis during the annual budget and mid-year reforecast processes. This review process compares data for similar job responsibilities and total compensation paid by similarly situated organizations against current compensation by position.”

“Federal tax laws do not mandate that the organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements be made available for public inspection. However, it is the practice of the organization to post its annual report and form 990 on its website and to make its financial statements to members of the public upon request.”

“Compensation reported for alliance for community research engagement and support (acres) and its related entity, alliancechicago, is paid and reported by alliancechicago as the common paymaster. Payroll expenses are subsequently allocated to each entity based on the employee's time devoted to that entity. Acres' form 990, part vii and schedule j reports each applicable employee's total w-2 compensation, however, the amounts reported on the form 990, part ix, functional expense are representative of acres' share of payroll expenses.”

“Consulting fees: program service expenses 3,256. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 3,256.”