Tempe Community Council Incorporated

“The Form 990 is presented at both the Finance Committee and board meetings prior to filing.”

“Each director is required to acknowledge potential conflicts of interest and remove him or herself from discussion and voting.”

“15a is no because the Executive Director is a leased employee provided inkind by the City of Tempe. 15b is yes because TCCs employees are reviewed annually and compensation is determined by market rates as well as allowable amounts provided by the federal grants these employees manage.”

“The Form 990 is available upon request and can be found on the IRS website.”

“Octavia Harris is a non voting member of the board.”

“This years work has been to continue the efforts of educating and advocating for substance use prevention by working with our partners to educate and inform. There has been a strong focus on opioid awareness and providing training to include Narcan training to parents and over 600 school district employees. We have also continued to participate with drug take back days and disposal opportunities partnering with Tempe Police and DEA to keep dangerous drugs out of the hands of teens, and provide trainings such as Botvin Lifeskills and Thrive to expand awareness and supports to our youth.”

“TCC continues to rely on research and data such as our comprehensive community needs assessment of Tempe human service needs that was completed in FY 2021 2022. Tempe Community Foundation, TCF, established an endowment fund with the Arizona Community Foundation several years ago to build a perpetuating source of funding to address human service needs in Tempe.”

“Each year a portion of the growth from this fund is distributed to agencies based on the focused need identified by Tempe Community Council in conjunction with the TCF Advisory Committee. In FY 2022 2023 a grant was provided to Foundation for Senior Living, FSL, to support a comprehensive day program of therapeutic recreation, nursing care and health monitoring, rehabilitative and social services for adults with disabilities and at risk seniors. Grants provided in previous years have included emergency rent and mortgage assistance, start up project assistance, legal services for low income community members, COVID19 crisis funding, mental health, aging, financial instability, and homelessness needs.”

“In addition to the TCF Endowment Fund, a Collaborative Fund was established for those donors who want to give and see their dollars utilized as needed throughout the year. All funds distributed from either fund go through a grant process with recommendations provided by the TCC Community Impact Committee for final approval by the TCC Board of Directors. The TCF endowment will remain as a perpetual source of funding along with the collaborative fund to address human services needs in Tempe. TCC Board of Directors also work to build the foundation base by seeking legacy gifts and other revenue sources.”

“Other program services. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, VITA, preparation services provide assistance to low and moderate income families and individuals including senior adults and individuals with disabilities to help achieve economic stability through public awareness and outreach. The emphasis is to ensure qualified taxpayers are receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit and other benefits needed to get much needed tax refunds for basic needs. Approximately 50 volunteer tax preparers are IRS certified each year to provide free services throughout the tax season. Nationally recognized as an IRS super site, the program offers and promotes public assistance resources, saving incentives, and saving bonds purchase options.”

“On average 1,200 tax returns are provided each year to qualified taxpayers, including seniors, those with disabilities, and hundreds of international students. To meet the individualized needs of taxpayers, service options include inperson, virtual and a modified drop off service.”

“Other program services. Together Tempe is a donation-based program in partnership with the City of Tempe where financial gifts are encouraged and collected to provide essential human service programs and services for individuals, children and families in Tempe. The City of Tempe obtains donations through their utility bill payment system and TCC receives individual donations; together the funds are combined and distributed through an annual Tempe citizen-led panel and process known as Agency Review to those nonprofits providing services for focuses such as homelessness, survivors of sexual and domestic violence, working poor, substance misuse, aging, individuals with disabilities, and youth.”

“In 2023, a Healthy Giving Campaign was initiated to encourage donations through this program to specifically be used to support homeless services.”

“Fees for services nonemployees. Amounts paid to consultants for the VITA program and contractors paid for services rendered in support of the major reimbursable government grants SACLAZ & AHCCCS.”