Independent Sector

“Is has members that help support the mission of the organization”

“There is only one class of voting members. The membership have the authority to elect directors of the organization other than the president.”

“The membership have the authority to approve changes in the articles of incorporation and by-laws, membership dues and/or dues assessment methodology, membership eligibility criteria, affirm major policies and legislative actions by the board, as appropriate, and adopt resolutions on national issues of concerns to the membership, as appropriate.”

“Prior to filing, the form 990 is presented to independent sector's audit committee for review. The chief financial officer also reviews the form 990 in detail with the president and chief executive officer prior to obtaining the ceo's signature on the document. The form 990 is also presented to the full board of directors for review in advance of filing. It is distributed in advance of the board meeting in order to ensure that directors have the opportunity for a meaningful review and to allow all directors the opportunity to gain a full understanding of the document before it is filed. Independent sector's auditors participate in the board meeting in order to respond to any questions that directors may have.”

“Each year, board members are asked to review independent sector's conflict of interest policy and to complete a conflict of interest disclosure statement. Among other things, the policy makes clear that all decisions of the board, officers and employees of independent sector are to be made solely on the basis of a desire to promote the best interests of the organization and the public good. The disclosure statement, in turn, requests that directors identify, to the best of their knowledge, affiliations with organizations that may be potentially related to the financial or other substantive operations of independent sector. They are also asked to identify circumstances involving either themselves, or a member of their extended family, that may be construed as a conflict of interest. If such circumstance should arise subsequent to submitting the disclosure statement, the policy sets forth an ongoing disclosure requirement. At the staff level, independent sector personnel also ensure that there are no conflicts of interest when considering engagement of a new vendor. If a potential conflict is identified, appropriate steps are taken both to assess the nature of the potential conflict and, subsequently, to ensure that the possibility of an actual conflict is mitigated. Such mitigation may be achieved through the recusal or firewalling of the individual in question, thus ensuring that the conflict is managed and the letter and spirit of the conflicts policy are upheld. In addition, we note that during the annual audit staff identify and disclose to auditors all known conflicts of interest.”

“Apart from the organization's president and chief executive officer, independent sector's board officers (chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer) do not receive compensation from the organization. An annual compensation review process for the ceo takes place under the leadership of the board chair and executive committee. An outside consultant is retained or salary surveys and 990s are reviewed to provide industry comparable salary data. An intermediate sanctions analysis and related documentation are also completed. The executive committee has responsibility for making final recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the president's performance evaluation and compensation. The board of directors makes a final determination with regard to these matters. With regard to staff compensation, the president and ceo, vice presidents, and appropriate staff managers also complete annual performance evaluations. For all staff other than the president and ceo, is utilizes industry comparable data in making determinations regarding the range of salaries. The president and ceo makes all final determinations relative to staff compensation.”

“Independent sector's governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are made available to the public. The annual audit, 990 and 990t, board of directors list, and is policies (conflict of interest, financial responsibility, gifts and entertainment, records retention and travel) are all available to the public on the organization's website (www.independentsector.org).”

“The number of voting members shown in part vi section a line 1 differs from the number of directors listed in part vii because board members are included in part vii if they served on the board at any time during 2019. Independent sector's board term begins at the annual business meeting held during the is annual conference in the fall.”

“Policy leader as the voice of the charitable and philanthropic sector, is works proactively to create a policy environment where charity can thrive. Our efforts include shaping and advancing a policy agenda to protect and promote the sector; increasing the sector's policy proficiency; and building the sector's advocacy muscle. Here are some of the most notable accomplishments to date: - independent sector has engaged with legislators on a wide range of bills that impact the sector this year. Alongside partners, independent sector successfully lobbied to pass bills that repealed a recent expansion to the unrelated business income tax (ubit),, reduced and simplified the private foundation excise tax, and required electronic filing of annual 990 information returns. It also included advocacy to expand charitable giving incentives, clarify political activity rules and protect the johnson amendment. - three major policy research products were released in 2019: survey research quantifying the impact of ubit provisions in the 2017 tax bill, values-based messaging research on charitable giving, and economic modeling of five proposals to dramatically expand charitable giving incentives. - our monthly voices for good newsletter and podcast and our monthly policy update calls continue to serve as key vehicles to keep members abreast of policy and legislative activity of concern to the sector, and help us encourage and offer guidance on nonprofit advocacy. - independent sector's public policy committee and our public policy fellows council continue to provide strategic counsel and analysis, and are currently helping the organization consider its position on national service and volunteerism policy. - is engaged all of the 2020 presidential campaigns regarding issues of concern to the nonprofit sector, resulting in survey findings from key candidates and a nonpartisan campaign forum on issues important to nonprofits. Nonpartisan civic engagement is an important policy opportunity for nonprofits, and independent sector seeks to model behavior for the sector. - independent sector's entire staff participated in our second annual all staff capitol hill day. During meetings with 57 congressional offices, the staff built its advocacy skills, increased the sector's visibility with legislators, and lived our commitment to the idea that every nonprofit professional must be an advocate. - nonprofits took over 900 actions through our action center, double the actions taken during all of 2018. The action center enables is members and others to contact federal lawmakers about the impact of policy proposals on their organizations and communities they serve.”

“Consultants: program service expenses 577,079. Management and general expenses 175,831. Fundraising expenses 31,056. Total expenses 783,966. Legislative assistance: program service expenses 176,665. Management and general expenses 53,828. Fundraising expenses 9,507. Total expenses 240,000. Speakers, service bureaus, and other: program service expenses 381,155. Management and general expenses 116,134. Fundraising expenses 20,512. Total expenses 517,801. Temporary help: program service expenses 64,723. Management and general expenses 40,219. Fundraising expenses 10,026. Total expenses 114,968.”