Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.| Identifier | Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Program Accomplishments | Part III, Lines 4a, 4b and 4c | Line (4a) US Open The USTA organizes and conducts the United States Open Tennis Championships-the US Open-which is the world's largest-attended annual sporting event and one of its premier sporting attractions. The US Open is held each year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, pursuant to an agreement with the USTA National Tennis Center Incorporated. Staging the US Open requires the dedication and talents of numerous USTA volunteers, USTA staff, and seasonal help to run this tennis tournament efficiently and effectively. The US Open helps fulfill several of the USTA's major purposes: to organize tennis tournaments and competitions for all tennis athletes without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin; and to promote the game of tennis to the general public. It is a major expectation of the US Open that the fans' enthusiasm and excitement for the event will encourage their interest in tennis and drive participation in the sport, which is a means of healthful recreation and physical fitness. As the premier showcase for tennis in the United States, the US Open uses its grand stage to help grow the game. The US Open is traditionally kicked off by Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, a special day of family-friendly activities which brings together the worlds of sports and entertainment. The event is held in honor of Arthur Ashe and continues his mission of using tennis as a means to instill in kids the values of humanitarianism, leadership and excellence. In 2012, Arthur Ashe Kid's Day attracted more than 30,000 kids and parents for a tennis-themed day of fun and entertainment. In 2012, the US Open topped 700,000 fans in attendance for the fifth time. Driven by two of the most compelling singles finals in the tournament's 131 years, television viewership of the women's final topped 17.7 million, with Serena Williams defeating Victoria Azarenka, and television viewership of the men's final topped 16.2 million, with Andy Murray capturing his first Grand Slam men's singles championship by defeating Novak Djokovic. The US Open was broadcast in 180 countries, while USOpen.org, the tournament's official website, had more than 46 million visits to the site. The 2012 US Open featured several major enhancements and initiatives. They included the US Open National Playoffs, which help make the US Open truly "open": anyone 14-and-over had a chance to compete, with one man and one woman earning a wild card entry into the 2012 US Open Qualifying Tournament-and with it, an opportunity to play in the main draw of the 2012 US Open. The playoffs were expanded in 2012 to include qualification for a direct entry into the main draw of the mixed doubles event. The US Open also expanded on its comprehensive "green" initiatives and continued to make the US Open one of the easiest places to be eco-friendly and environmentally sensitive, from recycling to energy management to transportation to merchandise. Line (4b) Community Tennis Development Community Tennis strives to grow tennis at every level with a goal of making the game accessible to everyone. It supports a broad range of programs designed to help people learn the game, play the game and take advantage of its many health/fitness and social benefits. USTA Membership, the USTA's second-largest revenue source, is housed in Community Tennis. USTA Leagues, USTA Jr. Team Tennis, National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL), Tournaments, and Parks and Schools programs are also managed within this business unit. Community Tennis works hand-in-hand through the joint efforts of Sectional Associations with approximately 500 committed volunteers and dozens of industry partners on a wide range of grass-roots efforts to grow the game. This includes the largest initiative ever to strengthen the tennis infrastructure in public parks, schools and after-school organizations. For example the USTA Facility Assistance Program has worked with nearly 3,500 tennis facilities of all types and sizes, providing them with technical assistance, grants, etc. to help build and renovate tennis courts. In 2012 alone this program helped build or renovate more than 6,133 courts, including 4,647 36' and 60' courts for the 10 and Under initiative. The 10 and Under Tennis Initiative has scaled the size of tennis courts and equipment for young children and has resulted in changing the rules of the game for players under 10. Community Tennis also aggressively promotes the sport through a substantial marketing campaign with the goal of keeping TENNIS top of mind as the lifetime sport for everyone. These efforts are paying dividends, as tennis has been the fastest-growing traditional sport in the United States for more than the past decade. While participation in many other sports are declining, tennis participation has grown to over 28 million players. Many Community Tennis initiatives are accomplished through the joint efforts of local and national volunteers and staff who work together to grow the game. The USTA has dozens of national committees (made up of volunteers and staff), each focused on different areas of the sport. Most of these committees work in Community Tennis. Below is a general description of just a few Community Tennis committees and their goal/purpose: The Schools Committee is focused on promoting and expanding School Tennis programs throughout the country. This effort includes providing resources, assistance and training to schools and other organizations for both in-school and after-school activities, such as a PE tennis curriculum, and intramural and interscholastic programs for the elementary, middle school and high school levels. The Tennis in the Public Parks Committee seeks to develop and promote a unified effort to enhance tennis play, programs and facilities in public park systems throughout the country. Working in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, this effort includes infrastructure, advocacy, and expansion of the Tennis in the Parks Initiative. The NJTL Committee serves as a resource to the network of over 600 NJTL chapters and programs by supporting both national and local programming efforts aimed at growing the number of tennis and education opportunities available to America's underserved youth. The Wheelchair Tennis Committee provides advice on ways to increase participation of individuals in wheelchairs in the game of tennis as players and volunteers, creating future champions at the World Team Cup, Para-Pan American Games and the Paralympics. The USTA League Committee provides recommendations and support to the USTA's League program. The Committee also focuses on promoting recreational and competitive league/team opportunities that motivate and encourage adult and senior players to become frequent tennis players. The Jr. Team Tennis Committee recommends, supports and promotes junior leagues and team opportunities that motivate and encourage junior players to play on tennis teams. The Adult/Senior Competition Committee works to promote all activities associated with adult/senior competition, including rankings, sanctions and schedules in an effort to increase participation in all national adult/senior competition events. The Membership Services Committee supports the efforts of the Membership Department to grow USTA membership, especially at the grass-roots level and with youth 10 and under. The Technical Committee monitors, evaluates, and, where appropriate, influences technical developments and makes recommendations for related rules in order to preserve the essential character of the game of tennis and promote its enjoyment. In addition, the USTA has created the 10 and Under Tennis Task Force to advise and support staff and volunteers in promoting and expanding the USTA's 10 and Under Tennis initiative and developing a pathway for juniors. This initiative includes (a) getting more school districts to adopt the USTA's PE curriculum and provide after-school skill development programs, testing and implementing the USTA's Tennis Play Days concept and developing a logical pathway moving youth from these programs to USTA Jr. Team Tennis and USTA tournaments, and (b) identifying and sharing "best practices" from the sections, districts, and local communities. |
| Program Accomplishments (continued) | Part III, Lines 4a, 4b and 4c | Line (4c) Professional Tennis Operations Division The USTA Professional Tennis Operations Division consists of the Emirates Airline US Open Series, Pro Tournaments, and Team Events and includes the Olympics, Davis Cup and Fed Cup, Professional Competitions, the USTA Pro Circuit, and the Officials department. Together, they manage the game at the highest levels in the United States, with an eye toward providing a manageable pathway to the elite levels of tennis competition for aspiring pro tennis players and officials. The activities managed by the Professional Tennis Operations Division represent tennis competition for amateurs and all athletes at its ultimate level. The events staged by the division are leveraged to showcase the fun, excitement, and athletic excellence of the sport and to encourage participation at all levels. As the recognized National Governing Body of the sport of tennis, the USTA is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. The USTA coordinates the United States' tennis participation in the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, as well as the Pan-American Games. The United States posted a strong showing for tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in Wimbledon, taking home three of the five gold medals and four medals overall: three gold and one bronze. Serena Williams became the first player to sweep the Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles since her sister Venus Williams accomplished the same feat in Sydney 2000. Serena's gold medal in singles also made her the first person to win the "Gold Slam" in both singles and doubles (winning titles at all four majors - the Australia Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open and an Olympic gold medal). Adding to the excitement were Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan winning a gold medal for the men's doubles. Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond were also able to win a bronze medal in mixed doubles. The four medals bring the total of U.S. medals in tennis to 20, including 13 gold, since the sport was reinstated in the Olympics in 1988. This is the highest total of any nation. The other U.S. competitors in the Olympics were Ryan Harrison, Liezel Huber, John Isner, Varvara Lepchenko, Christina McHale, Andy Roddick and Donald Young. The United States also posted a strong showing at the fifth Paralympic Games, capturing three medals. Top Americans David Wagner won the silver in the Quad singles while Nick Taylor took the bronze. Then David and Nick successfully defended their gold medal victories in Quad doubles from the 2004 and 2008 Summer Paralympic Games. The United States has now won 15 medals (six gold) since the Paralympic Games began in 1992. The other members of the United States team were Steve Baldwin, Jon Rydberg, four-time Paralympic medalist Stephen Welch, Noah Yablong, Emmy Kaiser, Mackenzie Soldan, and Bryan Barten. Davis Cup and Fed Cup are the elite international team competitions in professional tennis for men and women, respectively. More than 130 nations compete in these events annually. The Davis Cup celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999. The United States has won this competition on 32 occasions, more than any other nation. Over the past six years, the United States has reached the semifinal round two] times and won the Davis Cup championship in 2007. The United States Fed Cup team has won the Fed Cup title more than any other nation-a record 17 times. The Emirates Airline US Open Series ("EAUSOS") is the eight-week summer tennis season linking 10 major ATP and WTA Tour tournaments to the US Open. The EAUSOS launched in 2004 and resulted in record attendance and TV viewership for these tournaments. Despite the EAUSOS being scheduled during the same time as the Olympics in London, the 2012 EAUSOS events generated over 750,000 attendees, 30 million TV viewers, and approximately 47 million website visits, all of which help grow the game of tennis. In 2012, the USTA provided support (via prize money, grants and other means) to approximately 90 sanctioned, entry-level professional tournaments that comprise the USTA Pro Circuit. The world's largest professional tour for tennis development, the USTA Pro Circuit provides the next generation of American champions with the opportunity to play against world-class competition without having to travel abroad. |
| Member Rights | Part VI, Lines 6, 7a & 7b. | The voting members of the Association are the Sectional Associations and Direct Member Clubs & Organizations who have a weighted vote based on actual members in their geographic area. The voting members approve the slate of Officers and Board Members as submitted by the Nominating Committee. In addition, their rights include approving amendments to the By-laws and other voting rights pursuant to New York State not-for-profit corporation law. |
| Form 990 Review Process | Part VI, Section A, Line 11 | Upon completion by the staff, the Form 990 is reviewed by internal and external counsel. The Form 990 is reviewed by the Association's Audit Committee. The Form 990 is also distributed to the full Board of Directors in advance of filing. |
| Conflict of Interest Policy | Part VI, Section B, Line 12c | United States Tennis Association ("USTA") has a Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Policy that applies to all employees, volunteers and Board Members. The Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Policy requires an employee, volunteer and Board Member to report all actions, inactions or transactions that create, or appear to create, a conflict of interest. USTA obtains annual certifications from employees, volunteers and Board Members. The Ethics Officer reviews the completed disclosure statements for employees and the Chair of the Audit Committee reviews the completed disclosure statements for the volunteers and Board Members. The Ethics Officer and the Chair of the Audit Committee have the discretion to share the disclosure statements with the entire Audit Committee, Board of Directors and/or COO. The Ethics Officer and the Chair of the Audit Committee determine whether a conflict exists and so mark their decision on the disclosure statement, also indicating the required corrective action should they determine that a conflict exists (which may include, but is not limited to, prohibition in participating, deliberating and deciding issues and/or in transactions). |
| Determining Compensation for Senior Staff | Part VI, Section B., Line 15 | The Compensation Committee has responsibility for establishing a compensation strategy and setting the compensation of the Executive Director and his direct reports: Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Chief Executive Community Tennis, Chief Business and Marketing Officer, Chief Professional Tournaments Officer, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. The Compensation Committee meets a minimum of four times per year and documentation of these meetings and actions taken are contemporaneously secured. Compensation and incentive plan levels are set by the Committee following review of appropriate comparability data. Appropriate comparability data includes, but is not limited to, (i) information regarding compensation paid by similar organizations for similar services, (ii) the availability of similar services in the organization's geographic area, and (iii) compensation surveys compiled by independent firms. The review described above was conducted, with respect to incentive compensation for the above-noted individuals in the first quarter of 2011. |
| Public Availability of Association Documents | Part VI, Section C, Line 19 | The Association's Bylaws are located on its website (USTA.com). Upon request the public is provided copies of the Association's tax return, Form 990, which has all of the Association's financial information. Lastly, the conflict of interest policy can be found at www.ethicspoint.com under the website designed for the Association and is also available upon request from the Association's legal department. |
| Other Changes in Net Assets | Part XI, Line 5. | The amount on this line represents the net change in unrealized gain on investments which is included in the Association's audited financial statments but not in the Form 990. See Schedule D, Part XI - Reconciliation of Change in Net Assets from Form 990 to Audited Financial Statements, Line 4. |
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