Gracelight Community Health

“Form 990, Part VII, Section A, Hours of Officers: Director Allan Michelena, Board Chairman Jay Guerena, and Director Jeffrey Hermann each devoted approximately two hours per week to a related organization, QueensCare, in their roles as directors of QueensCare. All three individuals resigned from the Gracelight Community Health board effective July 28, 2023, and therefore served only during the first month of the fiscal year.”

“Language regarding the Q/QHC partnership was removed from the bylaws since the prior Form 990 was filed.”

“Following preparation of a final draft of the Form 990 by the organization's tax preparers, the organization's CEO and CFO review, analyze and discuss the final draft to better ensure its accuracy and completeness. Before the return is filed, the CEO and CFO review and discuss material aspects and details of the return at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. Gracelight Community Health previously maintained a formal partnership with QueensCare through the Q/QHC Healthcare Partners Agreement. This partnership was formally terminated effective December 31, 2023.”

“The organization's Board members, corporate officers, and staff are subject to a written conflicts of interest policy. Pursuant to that policy, each such person is required to identify any transaction with the organization in which the person has (or may have) a financial interest. If a conflict (or potential conflict) is identified, the Board, excluding any involved Board members, carefully reviews the terms of the transaction and makes a determination as to whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to the organization under all the facts and circumstances. The organization monitors and enforces compliance with this policy by: (i) discussing such issues at its annual meeting; (ii) requiring all covered persons to annually provide written certification of their compliance with the policy; and (iii) carefully reviewing all material transactions to identify potential or real conflicts.”

“A comprehensive study of most if not all positions in the organization is done every 3 to 5 years by an outside compensation consultant hired for this purpose. A Compensation Committee, comprised of independent Board members, reviews and recommends to the Board a wage scale proposed by the consultant from compensation data for similarly situated organizations. The scale includes each position, including the CEO and other top management officials. The Compensation Committee presents its findings and recommendations to the Board, and members are provided the opportunity to ask questions. A Board vote is taken to establish the new wage scale, with which each employee's compensation must comply. The wage scale is then reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee. The CEO's compensation amount is determined by the Board, based on the recommendation of the CEO Evaluation Committee comprised of independent Board members. The CEO Evaluation Committee reviews performance feedback submitted by each Board member annually. The amount of compensation paid to the CEO must comply with the wage scale established by the Compensation Committee. Deliberations of the Compensation Committee, the CEO Evaluation Committee and the Board are recorded in the organization's minute book. The CEO Evaluation Committee performs its review and makes its recommendations to the Board annually, typically in September.”

“The organization's annual information return (Form 990) is available on a third-party website (GuideStar). The organization provides copies of its governing documents, its conflict of interest policy, as well as its three most recent Forms 990 to any interested person that makes a request for such documents.”

“Director Allan Michelena, Board Chairman Jay Guerena, and Director Jeffrey Hermann each devoted approximately two hours per week to a related organization, QueensCare, in their roles as directors of QueensCare. All three individuals resigned from the Gracelight Community Health board effective July 28, 2023, and therefore served only during the first month of the fiscal year.”