Utah Foundation

“The 990 is reviewed by the executive director, board treasurer, and board chairman for accuracy and proper presentation. The executive director will address any questions and relay any suggestions for change.”

“Executive director compensation is determined by the executive committee (a nine-member committee of the board given the task of governing the foundation's operations more closely than the entire board.) the executive committee is independent of the individuals whose compensation is being determined. In determining a reasonable level of compensation, board members consider salaries paid to other similar positions in the region. The deliberation and determination of the executive committee is done without staff present. Their final decision is recorded in the executive committee meeting minutes.”

“The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available for public inspection upon request at the organization's offices.”

“Utah foundation's mission is to produce objective, thorough and well- reasoned research and analysis that promotes the effective use of public resources, a thriving economy, a well-prepared workforce and a high quality of life for utahns. Utah foundation seeks to help decision-makers and citizens understand and address complex issues. Utah foundation also offers constructive guidance to improve governmental policies, programs and structures. Utah foundation is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization.”

“See schedule o looking back over 2018, utah foundation had one of the most productive years in the organization's seven-decade history. We issued 12 public releases: 11 major reports and one brief. We published op-eds once per month and began making our podcasts a monthly affair. The news media covered our work more than 100 times. And we won two national awards for our research. Meanwhile, thanks to the generosity of our many supporters, we ended the year on a strong financial footing. We staged three breakfast briefings, and our annual luncheon was presented to a sell-out crowd. Finally, to chart a course for the future, trustees and staff collaborated to create the utah foundation 2025 strategic plan. The health cost series: a national award winner in our quadrennial utah priorities survey, we learned that the no. 1 concern of utahns was health care; citizens were particularly concerned about costs. In response, in 2018 we completed the three-part utah health cost series. The series was supported by an online video explaining the findings; blog posts, both on our website and on the gardner policy institute website; outreach to policymakers; a podcast; interviews with both broadcast and print media; and op-ed articles published in the salt lake tribune and deseret news. Research analyst sam brucker was the principal author of the series, which was supported in part with a grant from the george s. And dolores dor eccles foundation. At its annual conference held in detroit during the summer, the national governmental research association recognized the series with its 2018 most distinguished research award. Another national award-winner: the tax policy series in 2018, we presented a three-part utah tax policy series. The series was supported by a brief on the income tax during the legislative session; an income tax calculator tool showing citizens how the changes in the income tax affect them; an online video explaining our findings; outreach to policymakers; a podcast; interviews with both broadcast and print media; and three op-ed articles in the salt lake tribune and deseret news. The income tax report in particular stirred discussion by revealing that the changes would quietly result in state tax decreases for wealthier households - but increases for large, middle-class families. This led to public outcry, chatter on talk radio, an editorial in the salt lake tribune - and, ultimately, amendments from the legislature to address the issue. The sales tax report, meanwhile, has been instrumental in recent public discussions over whether to expand the base; in the coming months, the legislature is expected to consider major reforms on that front. Research analyst christopher collard was the principal author of the series. The tax policy series also won a national award this summer, for most effective education. In fact, utah foundation won national awards in two out of the governmental research association's three categories - the only two categories in which utah foundation was eligible to make entries. Launching the 2018-19 education spending series in 2018 we launched our ongoing k-12 education spending series, with two reports now out. The series so far has been supported by a presentation to the salt lake chamber; outreach to policymakers; a podcast; interviews with both broadcast and print media; and an op-ed article in the salt lake tribune. The state plans to upgrade its cost transparency in response to simple arithmetic? (february), the first report. The second report, a level playing field? (august) addressed funding for special needs students, a priority funding area in the governor's 2019 budget proposal. Thanks to the lawrence t. & janet t. Dee foundation and the brent and bonnie jean beesley foundation for providing grants to help fund the two reports. The series will yield two more reports in 2019. The quality of life survey: bigger and better every few years, we conduct our quality of life survey and issue a rep”