Frederick Book Arts Center Inc

“The executive director presents the 990 to the board as provided by the financial director. All board members have the opportunity to review if they wish. The finance committee (4 members including the treasurer and overseen by the treasurer) meets to review the 990 form and give any comments for feedback or pose any queries to the ed and the financial director. When this is all satisfied and any corrections are noted, the financial director and treasurer oversee any transmission to the accountants. If a more final document is required (from corrections), then the process repeats.”

“Ongoing review by executive committee. All board members sign a contract to abide by this as well.”

“The board determines comparables /other data along with the executive director and financial director prior to any new hires and for ongoing employees. While the executive director oversees all hires, and the financial officer offers input for the interviews and compensation data, the ed is ultimately responsible for all hires and answerable to the board. The board reviews new hires and determines if any changes are required on a yearly basis.”

“Documents are provided through candid.org.”

“Since 2018, fbac has offered a wide variety of high-quality classes and events. We host shows, artists talks, first saturday events, and take part in many of the events during the year in the bustling frederick community such as pride festival. Our nonprofit weathered the years of covid, and has emerged a stronger organization with added staff. In 2023, we hosted over 900 people at our classes and events, and concentrated on rebuilding our membership and our board (several of which had changes in duties during and after covid and could no longer serve). As a growing organization committed to the area, we have moved towards the hiring of a new executive director (as a paid position for the first time in our organization). This will be in the start of 2025. According to the data on our classes from 2023, of the 900+ (comparable to last year's numbers with less time open) people reached through our classes, over 90% were from md, of which over 60% are located in the immediate frederick area. As for our social media presence on facebook (meta), we have 4500+ (4300+ from the previous year), with most being from the greater frederick area. Our instagram has 2600+ followers, and we are active on twitter (x) and are beginning both youtube channels and tiktok to reach younger audiences. Our newsletter delivered by email has a reach of over 1000 people, mostly concentrated in western maryland. In 2022, we began the renovations of a new building at 127 south carroll street, alongside the ownership of s.c.o.f. Llc, in a new lease which began in november 2023. This new building provides fbac with a key location in the new carroll street creative district (alongside other orgs like the delaplaine arts center, and skystage), with more space and a customized interior to accommodate ada customers more readily, and to give us more space, as a growing organization, to offer classes and educational programming. With a core keen staff that have worked together for several years and an incoming ed, we have consolidated our efforts into attracting more customers and artists for our programs and outreach/community equipment in 2023.”

“At the end of 2023, fbac moved locations. Sara friedman (board, staff, cofounder) and her husband michael friedman are disclosed as being the officers and owners of south carroll opportunty fund, llc which holds the lease to the new location. Sara was recused from all discussions involving the lease, and the board has independent counsel for the lease negotiations. There has been a completely, at-arms-length negotiation with the lease. Rent payments for the lease were not collected until 2024.”