Elephants Rhinos & People

“During board meetings, ERP directors and officers alternate recording board meeting minutes. These meeting minutes include any and all relevant meeting details, including the date of the meeting, those in attendance, all pertinent details discussed, materials presented, any motion made and if the motion was approved and/or whether any person dissented. ERP does not presently have a separate committee with the authority to act on behalf of the governing body.”

“ERPs Executive Director and its CPA prepare a draft of ERPs Form 990, which is then provided to ERPs board of directors for review. If requested by ERPs board of directors, a board meeting is scheduled with ERPs CPA during which the board can ask questions regarding the Form 990. Once the questions have been resolved to the boards satisfaction and the Form 990 approved, Form 990 is filed with the IRS.”

“Along with its draft Form 990, ERP distributes its conflict of interest policy and a certification and disclosure form to its officers and directors. Each responding party shall certify that s/he has received a conflict of interest policy, understands the policy and agrees to comply with any requirements. The respondent shall also certify that s/he understands that ERP is charitable, that the organization must engage in activities that accomplish its exempt purposes and do not provide impermissible benefits to individuals or entities. In addition, the certification and disclosure form also requires each person to either: Certify that he or she has no actual or possible conflict of interest to report, or describe any relationships, transactions, or other circumstances, including those of family members, that could result in a conflict between the organizations interests and his or her personal financial or other interests. Each person is required to execute the certification and disclosure form, which will be retained in ERPs files. To properly monitor and enforce ERPs conflict of interest policy, ERP reviews the annual disclosure forms to screen for possible conflicts. If a conflict is discovered, ERP directors who are not a party to the potential conflict are required to follow the procedures set forth in ERPs conflict of interest policy.”

“ERP will provide a copy of its Form 1023, 1023 attachments, including state-filed governing documents, and any available 990 returns and other covered tax documents to any person or entity who requests a copy. Said copy shall be sent either via email, fax, 1st class mail, private courier or in a manner otherwise requested. Any requests will be honored no later than 30 days from the date of the request.”

“POVERTY ALLEVIATION OF RURAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ENDANGERED ELEPHANTS, RHINOS, AND OTHER WILDLIFE. THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION, THE DANGER TO AT-RISK ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED, AS THIS GIVES POVERTY-STRICKEN COMMUNITIES ALTERNATIVES TO POACHING. One aspect of ERPs poverty alleviation program is ERPs community HUBs, which are modular structures that house computers, desks, and internet access. Connectivity provides access to educational tools, long distance learning, jobs, financial planning and health and family services. These improve the quality of life in various ways, including the ability to earn larger incomes. The Bikes4erp program in which bikes are distributed to students with the goal of increasing access to education. Students earn bicycles by entering into a Study to Own contract such that if they use the bicycle to get to school for two years, then it becomes theirs. In the short-term, bicycles reduce childrens exhaustion from walking to school which results in increased school attendance. In the long-term, bicycles will help students complete their education, preparing them for better jobs and increasing the likelihood of their success.”