Parent Encouragement Program Inc.

“The organization has approximately 325 families who pay an annual fee of $50 to join pep. This is primarily a method of providing financial support for the organization as well as maintaining a connection to the positive parenting mission and goals of pep. Members receive a discount of ten percent (10%) on parenting class fees and books sold in the bookstore. There are regularly scheduled parenting support sessions for members only.”

“The organization has approximately 325 families who are eligible to elect the officers and the directors of the board of directors.”

“The 990 was prepared by outside accountants and reviewed by pep's executive director and pep's finance committee of the board of directors, who then forwarded the 990 via email to all pep board members for further review and comments. A final copy of the 990 was shared with the board before filing with the irs.”

“The conflict of interest policy is reviewed with new board members during board orientation, and the president reminds board members of their responsibility to disclose potential conflicts. When a board member is aware of a potential conflict in connection with a matter being discussed, that board member has an obligation to announce the potential conflict and recuse him or herself from voting on the matter. If such a potential conflict appears to exist but the board member has not announced it, another board member raises the matter with the chair of the meeting, and the chair inquires into the facts of the potential conflict and determines whether recusal is necessary and appropriate. The same conflict of interest policy applies to employees.”

“As part of its annual budget review process, the pep board of directors is presented with a detailed overview of all staff salaries, including the pep executive director's salary, and any proposed salary increases. Over the past few years, the board has worked to ensure that all staff salaries fall between the 25% to 50% percentile of the maryland nonprofit salary market for their respective position, and in 2015, the board made adjustments to any staff salary that fell below the 25% percentile mark, to increase it to the 25% mark. In may 2016, the board approved a cost of living increase for all staff, except for the executive director whose salary was unchanged from the previous two years.”

“Pep's audited financial statements, 990 forms and annual report are posted on our website. In addition, pep makes its audited and interim financial statements, conflict of interest policy, and governing documents available upon request. Review of the documents is free in our offices during normal office hours, or by appointment, or can be copied, mailed or emailed for the cost of copying and postage.”

“Some of pep's board members also serve as part of the pep's corps of certified parent educators who lead pep's parenting classes (which is unrelated to their service as board members). All pep parent educators are offered a small stipend, based on the number of classes they teach, to cover costs such as transportation, child care and other out-of-pocket expenses.”

“During the year, trish pannuto served as a board member and a staff member. The compensation disclosed on part vii represents her services as an employee and are unrelated to her board duties.”