Fundamental Needs Inc.

“| Employee:, Relationship:, Employee:| Justice Ramos, Family Relationship, Jennie Ramos| Justice Ramos, Family Relationship, Joe Ramos| Jennie Ramos, Family Relationship, Joe Ramos|”

“Fundamental Needs documents the activities of its governing body through written meeting minutes and records of decisions made throughout the year. Board meetings are held regularly and key actions including financial oversight and organizational decisions are recorded and maintained for organizational records.”

“The Executive Director and board chairwoman review the draft Form 990 for accuracy and completeness. The draft is then circulated to all voting board members for review before submission. Feedback is collected and any necessary corrections are made prior to filing.”

“The organization maintains a written Conflict of Interest Policy requiring all officers directors employees and contractors to disclose actual or potential conflicts. Disclosures are reviewed by the board and documented in a Conflict Register. Appropriate measures-such as recusal from decisions reassignment of duties or approval with safeguards-are implemented based on severity and risk. The policy is reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with best practices.”

“The organization makes its Form 990 and relevant governance documents available to the public via its public profile on GuideStar https: www.guidestar.org profile 85-3603760 and provides additional documentation upon request.”

“| Employee Name:, Description:| Justice Ramos, During the tax year compensation to Justice Ramos totaled $49,313. Of this amount $12,000 was paid as an independent contractor Form 1099 during the early part of the year. Upon further review of compensation structure and applicable IRS guidelines the organization transitioned Justice Ramos to employee W-2 status for the remainder of the year. This change was made to ensure proper classification and compliance with IRS standards. All subsequent compensation was paid through payroll and reported as W-2 wages. The organization continues to evaluate and strengthen its payroll and classification practices to ensure full compliance.| Jennie Ramos, Jennie Ramos serves as Board Chairwoman and also provides administrative and program management support to the organization as an independent contractor. During the tax year she received $25,000 in compensation for these contracted services. Her compensated work is separate from her board responsibilities and consists of advisory and administrative support. She does not maintain set hours and operates independently in determining how work is performed. The organization evaluates compensation to ensure it is reasonable and consistent with the services provided.| Kashon Harrison, Kashon Harrison serves as a member of the Board of Directors and also provides program management services as the New Mexico Project Manager. During the tax year he received $18,000 in compensation for services performed in his capacity as a contractor. His compensated work is separate from his role as a board member and consists of managing and implementing program activities. He operates independently in carrying out his responsibilities and does not maintain fixed hours set by the organization. The organization reviews compensation to ensure it is reasonable and aligned with services provided.|”

“Fundamental Needs”

“In 2024 Fundamental Needs piloted its Social Entrepreneurship Program providing students with hands-on experience in business fundamentals problem-solving and real-world applications. A key outcome was the student-led conceptualization of the Cortez Makerspace a project designed to provide technical training workforce development and business support for the community. While full implementation of the makerspace is pending funding Fundamental Needs has established partnerships with Fort Lewis College Pueblo Community College and local businesses to lay the groundwork for future workforce development programs. In the interim limited technical training and entrepreneurship workshops have been introduced ensuring progress toward the long-term vision.”

“| Explanation:| The organization utilizes independent contractors to support program operations including water system installations program delivery and administrative support. Contractors maintain control over their schedules and methods of work. The organization continues to evaluate classification practices and is implementing enhanced documentation and internal controls to ensure compliance with IRS guidelines.”