Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 18,800,633 | 17,906,330 | 20,263,828 | 17,763,895 | 18,323,111 | 93,057,797 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 18,800,633 | 17,906,330 | 20,263,828 | 17,763,895 | 18,323,111 | 93,057,797 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 93,057,797 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 18,800,633 | 17,906,330 | 20,263,828 | 17,763,895 | 18,323,111 | 93,057,797 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 110,687 | 154,120 | 100,084 | 191,351 | 135,652 | 691,894 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 93,749,691 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2020 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2020 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2020: | ||||
| a From 2015....... | ||||
| b From 2016....... | ||||
| c From 2017....... | ||||
| d From 2018....... | ||||
| e From 2019....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2015 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2020 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2020, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2020. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2021. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4: PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND SERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BLIND PERSONS IN SPECIFIC AND INDIVIDUAL WAYS, THE OVERALL SCOPE OF OUR WORK IS ALSO FOCUSED IN A STRATEGIC EFFORT TO MAKE SYSTEMIC CHANGES TO THE CULTURE OF LOW EXPECTATIONS, UNINFORMED PUBLIC POLICY, INADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS, AND GENERAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL NATURE OF PROBLEMS FACED BY BLIND PEOPLE. THESE ACTIVITIES CREATE MORE EQUITABLE WORKPLACES, CLASSROOMS, AND COMMUNITIES - ENHANCING THE LIVES OF SEVEN MILLION PERSONS IN AMERICA WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE VISUAL DISABILITIES. A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS WORK FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO BLINDNESS IS OUR BROAD-BASED INTERACTION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ALL METHODS OF MASS COMMUNICATION AVAILABLE TO US - INTERNET, PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWS OUTLETS, PUBLIC MEETINGS AND FORUMS, CIVIC GROUPS, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE COMPRISING THE MEMBERSHIP AND OF THE ORGANIZATION. BELOW ARE LISTED SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING 2020 AIMED TOWARD THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE SYSTEMIC CULTURAL CHANGES. IN 2020, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CAUSED THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND TO PIVOT PROGRAMS FROM IN-PERSON TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS, ACTIVITIES, AND CONVENTIONS. NFB CREATED COMMUNICATION CHANNELS TO SHARE PANDEMIC NEWS AND TO SUPPORT BLIND PEOPLE WHO WERE ISOLATED BECAUSE OF STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS, ENCOURAGED STATE CHAPTERS TO CHANGE MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS TO ONLINE PLATFORMS, AND HOSTED THE 2020 NATIONAL CONVENTION THROUGH ONLINE AND STREAMING PLATFORMS. THESE ACTIVITIES ALLOWED OVER 10,000 BLIND AND LOW-VISION PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO STAY CONNECTED TO OTHER BLIND PEOPLE, LEARN ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, AND BECOME PART OF A LARGER COMMUNITY. MODIFYING IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES TO ONLINE ACCESS PROVIDED STUDENTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND BRAILLE AND STEM ACTIVITIES; BLIND CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE LEARNING IMPORTANT SKILLS IN A YEAR OF ONLINE LEARNING CHALLENGES. NFB-NEWSLINE-- WE OPERATED NFB-NEWSLINE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER SERVICE FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED PERSONS PROVIDING ACCESS TO OVER 500 PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING OVER 350 LOCAL AND STATE NEWSPAPERS, 13 NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS, 45 BREAKING NEWS SOURCES, 14 INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPERS, 89 MAGAZINES, 6 SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS, AND 9 BLINDNESS-SPECIFIC PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING THE BRAILLE MONITOR, FUTURE REFLECTIONS AND JOURNAL OF BLINDNESS INNOVATION AND RESEARCH. DURING 2020, 2,096 NEW SUBSCRIBERS SIGNED UP FOR NFB-NEWSLINE, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS TO 124,813. NFB-NEWSLINE PROVIDED 32,727,029 MINUTES OF NEWS TO SUBSCRIBERS WHO ACCESSED THE SERVICE ONLINE 5,334,329 TIMES AND RECEIVED 10,362,925 ELECTRONIC DOWNLOADS. WE DISTRIBUTED FREE WHITE CANES TO BLIND PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. MORE THAN 77,000 FREE CANES HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING OVER 5,000 IN 2020. WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 700 FREE SLATES AND STYLUSES IN 2020 FOR WRITING BRAILLE TO BLIND INDIVIDUALS UPON REQUEST. WE OPERATED THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR NONVISUAL ELECTION TECHNOLOGY WHICH SHARES BEST PRACTICES ABOUT BLIND VOTERS' NEEDS AND HOUSES VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEMONSTRATION AND EVALUATION AT NO COST TO OFFICIALS OR THE PUBLIC. WE PROVIDED THROUGH OUR CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN NONVISUAL ACCESS THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER TO HELP COLLEGES MEET THEIR NON-VISUAL ACCESSIBILITY OBLIGATIONS THROUGH THE CREATION OF DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES, UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES. WE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM WHICH BOTH PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL BLIND PERSONS INVOLVED IN A PARTICULAR ACTION AND ADVANCES DISABILITY RIGHTS CASE LAW UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973. ACTIVE LEGAL CASES DURING 2020 INCLUDED ACTIONS REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF BLIND INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE INDEPENDENTLY AND WITH PRIVACY; THE RIGHTS OF BLIND PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION; AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS REQUIRING NON-VISUAL ACCESS TO WEB-BASED AND OTHER ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL SYSTEMS USED BY SCHOOLS, RETAILERS AND OTHER PROVIDERS OR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND EMPLOYERS--INCLUDING ESPECIALLY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYERS. LACK OF ACCESS TO THESE SYSTEMS AFFECTS ALL AREAS OF LIFE AND IS A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION BY BLIND PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. WE PROVIDED MENTORING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY TRAINING, AND RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO BLIND INDIVIDUALS AND MORE THAN 500 LOCAL SELF-ADVOCACY AND PEER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS OF BLIND INDIVIDUALS. WE OFFERED UNDER CONTRACT WITH LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE OF THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED COURSES LEADING TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CERTIFICATION IN BRAILLE TRANSCRIPTION AND PROOFREADING. WE CONDUCT AN ON-GOING RESEARCH PROGRAM THE MISSION OF WHICH IS TO DEEPEN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL CHALLENGES THAT FACE BLIND PEOPLE AND TO HELP BLIND PEOPLE INCREASE INDEPENDENCE, SELF-RESPECT, AND SELF-DETERMINATION. AREAS OF IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION INCLUDE NEW APPROACHES IN EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE BLIND, INNOVATIONS RELATED TO THE USE OF BRAILLE, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES, AND PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DEVELOPED BY AND FOR THE BLIND. OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS INCLUDE THE PUBLICATION OF THE JOURNAL OF BLINDNESS INNOVATION AND RESEARCH. WE PROVIDE ON-GOING OUTREACH AND MENTORING TO PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN WHICH INCLUDES SPECIFIC RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES FOR BLIND CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY ACTIVITIES AIMED AT EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF BRAILLE AND MOBILITY SKILLS. WE ADJUSTED THE 2020 BRAILLE ENRICHMENT FOR LITERACY AND LEARNING (BELL) ACADEMY SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR BLIND CHILDREN AGES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE FROM IN-PERSON LOCAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TO ONLINE NATIONAL SEMINARS THAT ALLOWED CHILDREN AND PARENTS FROM 40 STATES TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THREE TWO-WEEK SESSIONS. THE ONLINE FORMAT: ALLOWED THE CHILDREN TO CONTINUE TO LEARN OR BEGIN TO LEARN IMPORTANT BLINDNESS SKILLS DURING A TIME WHEN MANY WERE NOT RECEIVING SERVICES IN SCHOOLS; ENCOURAGED PARTICIPATION OF PARENTS TO LEARN ALONG WITH THEIR CHILDREN; AND GAVE FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OTHER LIKE FAMILIES FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. WE AWARDED 30 ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS TO BLIND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO. WE PROVIDED NON-VISUAL TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO BLIND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL BRAILLE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER AS WELL AS EVALUATION OF AND INPUT TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE 52 STATE CHAPTERS OF THE ORGANIZATION WHICH ARE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS (A MAJORITY OF WHOSE VOTING MEMBERS MUST BE BLIND) IN EACH OF THE 50 STATES, PUERTO RICO AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION CONSISTING OF THE MEMBERS OF 52 STATE CHAPTERS (MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS WITH A MAJORITY OF VOTING MEMBERS WHO ARE BLIND IN THE 50 STATES PLUS PUERTO RICO AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) ELECT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B | THE NATIONAL CONVENTION (52 STATE CHAPTERS WITH ONE VOTE EACH) IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF THE ORGANIZATION, HAVING THE FINAL AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO ALL ISSUES OF POLICY. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | THE ORGANIZATION'S FINAL FORM 990 (INCLUDING REQUIRED SCHEDULES), AS ULTIMATELY FILED WITH THE IRS WAS REVIEWED AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING BODY) HELD PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THE RETURN. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | THE POLICY APPLIES TO ALL OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF SAME. FULL DISCLOSURE AND BOARD REVIEW OF A CONFLICT OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT IS REQUIRED. AN OFFICER OR BOARD MEMBER INVOLVED IN A CONFLICT OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS RELATING TO IT. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | NO OFFICERS OR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION. THE PRESIDENT IS THE CEO AND RECEIVES NO COMPENSATION. THERE ARE NO KEY EMPLOYEES. IF THERE WERE KEY EMPLOYEES, CEO, OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS RECEIVING COMPENSATION - AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW, COMPARABILITY DATA AND CONTEMPORANEOUS SUBSTANTIATION OF ACTION WOULD BE REQUIRED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART VIII, LINE 3: | INVESTMENT INCOME IS REPORTED NET OF INVESTMENT EXPENSES. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: | THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING THE AUDITORS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRECEDING YEAR. |
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| Software Version: |