Freshgrass Public Foundation

“In accordance with common practice in the nonprofit community, the Board delegates certain matters to The Executive Committee, which is empowered to act between board meetings if necessary, and sometimes with specifically delegated authority to act in particular areas on behalf of the full board. The composition of executive committee includes Board members.”

“Form 990 is prepared by an outside tax professional. The form is then reviewed bythe organization's management, at least one member of the board of directors, and the executive director. This group of individuals then discusses the contents of the return with the outside tax professional. After a full review, the final version of the tax return is provided to all members of the organization's voting body. A representative of management authorizes the final form 990 which is then e-filed with the internal revenue service.”

“Members of the board of directors review all potential conflicts of interest at least annually. The executive director and all board members are required to disclose (in writing) potential conflicts and any related party affiliations. Loans between the organization and members of management and the board are strictly prohibited. The organization seeks full transparency on all relationships. Any potential conflicts (in fact or appearance) are discussed openly and resolved in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.”

“Members of the board of directors review the compensation of all high-level personnel periodically in accordance with irs rules and regulations. Efforts are made to secure compensation data from industry sources in order to determine competitiveness and appropriateness of salaries. Every effort is made to ensure that the process is thorough and transparent in accordance with irs guidelines and the organization's policies and procedures.”

“Compensation of other high-level personnel and key employees is reviewed periodically by members of management. Efforts are made to secure compensation data from industry sources in order to determine competitiveness and appropriateness of salaries and all related benefits. All decisions are then documented in personnel files.”

“ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER LEGALFILINGS ARE MAINTAINED IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT AND HELD AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BYTAX AUTHORITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. TAX RETURNS ARE POSTED ANNUALLY TOWWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG (WHERE they are AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AS ELECTRONIC COPIES) AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR A PHYSICAL INSPECTION AT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Program Service Accomplishments (continued from Form 990 Page 2)I. Folk Alley 2021 Program Accomplishmentsthe finest newest releases by contemporary artists. In 2021, Folk Alleys monthly audience across all music channels ranged from 81,413 to 62,429, with an average monthly audience of 69,000 reaching 216 countries/territories across the globe. In addition to the internet radio service, Folk Alley also produced a weekly 2-hour syndicated terrestrial radio show that is carried by 63 public and community radio stations across the United States. Website:-------- FolkAlley.com is the home for additional and complementary content that supports the internet radio music streams and weekly terrestrial radio show. It includes album reviews, song and video premieres, special artists interviews and features, exclusive in-studio video sessions, and the newly launched (in 2021) bi-monthly podcast, Why We Write hosted by acclaimed folk music journalist and author, Kim Ruehl. In 2021, on average each month 21,620 individuals visit FolkAlley.com to explore and enjoy all its offerings. Visitors from 199 countries/territories spent time on FolkAlley.com. Listener-Supported/Donors:-------------------------- As a service dedicated to celebrating and keeping folk and roots music available for everyone to discover and enjoy, Folk Alley and our robust content on FolkAlley.com are offered to the folk music loving community free of charge. Folk Alley is funded by individual donations ranging from $5 to $30,000. In 2021, approximately 3443 individuals donated a total of $363,457. 705 people were first-time donors.II. No Depression 2021 Program Accomplishmentsjournal excerpts online or subscribing and supporting independent music journalism! In the past year, No Depression has published long-form, reported features on * how deaf and hard of hearing roots music fans appreciate, engage with, and enjoy this art form* a history of yodeling (featuring Jimmie Rodgers, Nick Shoulders, Scott H. Biram, Roomful of Teeth, and more)* profiles on Carly Simon, Leslie Jordan, Allison Russell, Hiss Golden Messenger, Billy Bragg, Alice Coltrane, and more.* original essays penned by musicians including Kamara Thomas about the Country Soul Songbook, Chris Pierce, Low Cut Connie, Jolie Holland, Ana Egge, and Holly G of the Black Opry project* an award-winning piece on the history of murder ballads, what's problematic about the violence within them, and how to move forward while respecting both the form and the humanity. (More specifically, Assistant Editor Stacy Chandler's story, "Violent Verses: Modern Musicians Grapple with the Legacy of Murder Ballads," won the 2022 Rolling Stone Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism.)* and an entire issue dedicated to "Good News!"III.FreshGrass Music Festivals 2021 Program Accomplishments It is our belief that the simple acts of making and sharing authentic creations are among the most effective ways to spread joy and love, to improve lives and communities, and to make a profoundly positive impact on the world. To achieve our mission, we produce FreshGrass Festivals in North Adams, MA and Bentonville, AR; we offer a variety of grants, commissions, and awards to musicians and writers for new works; we produce and publish No Depression, the quarterly journal of roots music; we produce, publish and stream Folk Alley, the 24-hour online listening for roots music; we are a founding partner of Artists At Work, a program that provides living wages for living artists; we administer the Steve Martin Banjo Prize, a prestigious award founded by Steve Martin (actor/comedian) that recognizes an individual or group for outstanding accomplishment in banjo; and we operate and manage Studio 9 in North Adams, MA, a state-of-the-art recording studio and venue. Through a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, FreshGrass continually strives to help promote new artists and create new art”

“and facilitate the creation and performance of such music.”