Equis Institute

“Stephanie valencia and carlos odio have a business relationship.”

“Equis institute's outside cpa firm and the director of operations & finance prepare the form 990. The form is reviewed and approved by the organization's director of operations, finance, & legal counsel. The form is provided to the full board for review before filing with the irs.”

“The organization has a conflict of interest policy that covers all officers, directors, and employees (covered persons). All covered persons must complete an annual disclosure statement and disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to all business and family relationships. If the board identifies any potential or actual conflict of interest, such persons are prohibited from participating in the governing body's deliberations and decisions in the transaction. The goal of the policy is to protect equis institute from private inurement or possible excess benefit transactions. Following are the main elements of the policy: 1. Interested person - any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board-delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person. 2. Financial interest - a person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family: a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the organization has a transaction or arrangement, b. A compensation arrangement with the organization or with any entity or individual with which the organization has a transaction or arrangement, or c. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the organization is negotiating a transaction or arrangement. Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial. A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. 1. Duty to disclose - in connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board-delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. 2. Determining whether a conflict of interest exists - after disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he or she leaves the governing board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members decide if a conflict of interest exists. Board members and organizational leadership will fill out a conflict of interest disclosure statement at the annual meeting of the board. 3. Procedures for addressing the conflict of interest: a. An interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or committee meeting, but after the presentation, he or she leaves the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest. B. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee determines whether the organization can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest. C. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in the organization's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it makes its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement. 4. Violations of the conflicts of interest policy: a. If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it informs the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose. If the governing board or committee determines the member has faile”

“The organization makes its governing documents, the conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Equis research, an affiliated, but un-related organization for tax purposes, issues compensation on behalf of equis institute. Equis research and equis institute have a cost-sharing agreement in which equis institute reimburses equis research for expenses incurred. The compensation reported for stephanie valencia, and carlos odio is equis institute's allocable share. The organization compensated dan restrepo for consulting services unrelated to his board duties.”

“The organization launched the lapiz program.”

“Contractors: program service expenses 2,368,072. Management and general expenses 261,984. Fundraising expenses 875. Total expenses 2,630,931. Polling: program service expenses 530,667. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 530,667. Testing: program service expenses 51,350. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 51,350. Focus groups: program service expenses 10,750. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 10,750. Data acquisition & services: program service expenses 80,452. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 80,452. Shared services fee: program service expenses 272,054. Management and general expenses 563,068. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 835,122.”