2024-10-23T08:47:37-05:00 2023-12-31 111986323 MARCUM LLP 9 PARKWAY NORTH SUITE 200 DEERFIELD IL 60015 990 2023-01-01 360802950 BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION INC BETT 3124278330 223 W JACKSON BOULEVARD 300 CHICAGO IL 60606 DAVID GREISING PRESIDENT & CEO 3124278330 2024-10-22 1 0 ARIANA N JORDAN P01441395 8472826300 2024-10-22 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z CHRISTOPHER SHOUP 223 W JACKSON BOULEVARD 300 CHICAGO IL 60606 4882722 0 X WWW.BETTERGOV.ORG X 1923 IL THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO FIGHT WASTE, CORRUPTION, AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, IN ILLINOIS, BY USING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TECHNIQUES, LITIGATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY SUTDIES TO EXPOSE PROBLEMS, INFORM CITIZENS ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS. 25 25 34 27 0 0 4189628 4535633 0 0 144283 -62327 -96400 -126276 4237511 4347030 0 0 0 0 2887745 3322030 0 0 731094 1090855 1093958 3978600 4415988 258911 -68958 3893947 3981316 392084 176644 3501863 3804672 X THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") WORKS TO FIGHT WASTE, CORRUPTION, AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, IN ILLINOIS BY USING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TECHNIQUES, LITIGATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES TO EXPOSE PROBLEMS, INFORM CITIZENS ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS. 0 0 2147948 INVESTIGATIVE - THE BGA'S TEAM OF AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISTS EXAMINES THE USE AND MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN CHICAGO, THE SUBURBS AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. IT EXPOSES MISCONDUCT, HYPOCRISY AND WASTE WHILE ALSO BREAKING DOWN COMPLEX ISSUES THROUGH IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE STORIES, DETAILED EXPLANATORY PIECES AND POLITIFACT FACT-CHECKS. IT WORKS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BGA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS. 640461 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - THE BGA'S POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR A MORE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY REFORMS. WE WORK TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN ILLINOIS' FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND TO PROPOSE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY AND WASTE IN GOVERNMENT. THE POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT ACROSS ILLINOIS BY CRAFTING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE TRACK TRENDS AND RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES IN GOOD GOVERNMENT, AND PUBLISH ANALYSES AND PERSPECTIVES ON OUR WEBSITE AND WITH MEDIA PARTNERS. 469226 POLICIES ADVOCATE - THE BGA'S POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR A MORE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY REFORMS. WE WORK TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN ILLINOIS' FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND TO PROPOSE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY AND WASTE IN GOVERNMENT. THE POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT ACROSS ILLINOIS BY CRAFTING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE TRACK TRENDS AND RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES IN GOOD GOVERNMENT, AND PUBLISH ANALYSES AND PERSPECTIVES ON OUR WEBSITE AND WITH MEDIA PARTNERS. 3257635 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 26 0 1 34 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 25 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 IL X X CHRISTOPHER SHOUP 3128219029 223 W JACKSON BLVD SUITE 300 CHICAGO IL 60606 PAULETTE DODSON CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 STEVE MILLER VICE CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 HEATHER STEANS VICE CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 NYKIA WRIGHT SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ROBERT LEVIN TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JORGE CABRERA DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PHIL CALIAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KEVIN COOK DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 FELICIA DAVIS-BLAKELY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANNE DOOLEY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 TIM FRANKLIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALICIA GARCIA-ABNER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 HILL HAMMOCK DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 D CARROLL JOYNES DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 GEETA MALHOTRA DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JACK MODZELEWSKI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JESSICA NOLAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHRIS ROONEY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK RUST DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRIAN SHER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SCOTT SOLOMON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN SVOBODA DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WADE THOMSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARYANN WARYJAS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JILL WINE-BANKS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID GREISING PRESIDENT & CEO 40.00 X 372074 0 14328 SALLY GONZALEZ VP OF OPERATIONS - UNTIL 01/2023 40.00 X 25713 0 0 CHRISTOPHER SHOUP VP OF OPERATIONS 40.00 X 160173 0 4728 REINALDO RAMOS EDITOR IN CHIEF - UNTIL 09/2023 40.00 X 169798 0 8417 BRYAN ZAROU DIRECTOR OF POLICY 40.00 X 153250 0 7766 STEVE WARMBIR INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR 40.00 X 159410 0 17485 AMBER BEL CHER DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40.00 X 115692 0 2937 1156110 0 55661 6 0 1 0 0 1400545 3135088 21731 4535633 93060 93060 237709 393096 -155387 -155387 -155387 16320 1400545 142596 -126276 -126276 4347030 0 0 -188603 916247 766077 61558 88612 1900472 1366294 151674 382504 27868 22176 3357 2335 289741 255285 188 34268 187702 140190 14441 33071 51848 41161 4021 6666 114586 114586 11443 11443 81080 81080 27453 27453 40048 2197 18642 19209 59281 59240 41 202909 160626 16269 26014 41843 38850 1062 1931 11288 939 10297 52 48602 38584 3769 6249 100268 71751 7961 20556 INVESTIGATIVE 111453 111453 AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT 88808 88808 POLICY & GOV AFFAIRS 43460 43460 BOOKS, DUES, SUBSCRIPTI 38438 18406 6155 13877 21150 4685 1795 14670 4415988 3257635 427259 731094 401789 429660 892395 525000 540266 429776 22818 36414 302851 274866 30167 27985 1958996 1865955 195561 329840 188641 3893947 3981316 203029 176644 189055 0 392084 176644 X 2911302 3084111 590561 720561 3501863 3804672 3893947 3981316 -68958 371767 0 X 0 1 X 0 0 X 2392904 2949728 3120260 4189628 4535633 17188153 2392904 2949728 3120260 4189628 4535633 17188153 5620388 11567765 21285 24920 32688 51971 93060 223924 10100 10100 17422177 19345 0.66400 0.76150 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: OTHER INCOME - 2019 AMOUNT: $ 10,100. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 6314 5172 1142 222318 202753 19565 74219 66941 7278 27985 X 4849950 371767 371767 4478183 11443 -142596 -131153 4347030 4547141 142596 142596 4404545 11443 11443 4415988 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION EVALUATES ALL SIGNIFICANT TAX POSITIONS AS REQUIRED BY GAAP. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IT HAS TAKEN ANY TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE RECORDING OF ANY ADDITIONAL TAX LIABILITY NOR DOES IT BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ANY UNREALIZED TAX BENEFITS THAT WOULD EITHER INCREASE OR DECREASE WITHIN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS. IF THE ORGANIZATION WERE TO INCUR AN INCOME TAX LIABILITY IN THE FUTURE, THE INTEREST ON ANY TAX LIABILITY WOULD BE REPORTED AS INTEREST EXPENSE AND PENALTIES ON ANY INCOME TAX LIABILITY WOULD BE REPORTED AS INCOME TAX EXPENSE. THE ORGANIZATION'S INCOME TAX RETURNS ARE SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPROPRIATE TAXING JURISDICTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION'S INCOME TAX RETURNS GENERALLY REMAIN OPEN FOR EXAMINATION FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE FILED WITH EACH TAXING JURISDICTION AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS PENDING OR IN PROGRESS. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: FUNDRAISING EXPENSES -142,596. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 142,596. ANNUAL LUNCHEON 1416865 1400545 16320 25021 34865 82710 1416865 1400545 16320 25021 34865 82710 142596 -126276 X X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 DAVID GREISING PRESIDENT & CEO 299574 0 72500 0 0 0 12046 0 2282 0 386402 0 0 0 REINALDO RAMOS EDITOR IN CHIEF - UNTIL 09/2023 169798 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8417 0 178215 0 0 0 STEVE WARMBIR INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR 144410 0 15000 0 0 0 5527 0 11958 0 176895 0 0 0 CHRISTOPHER SHOUP VP OF OPERATIONS 145173 0 15000 0 0 0 3408 0 1320 0 164901 0 0 0 BRYAN ZAROU DIRECTOR OF POLICY 148250 0 5000 0 0 0 6156 0 1610 0 161016 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 4A DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023, SALLY GONZALEZ, VP OF OPERATIONS UNTIL JANUARY 2023, RECIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT OF $25,713. PART I, LINE 7 ALL BONUSES REPORTED IN THIS RETURN WERE AWARDED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BONUS AMOUNTS ARE REPORTED FOR THE FOLLOWING: DAVID GREISING | $72,500 CHRIS SHOUP | $15,000 STEVE WARMBIR | $15,000 BRIAN ZAROU | $5,000 AMBER BEL CHER | $2,500 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND PRESIDENT AND CEO WILL ENSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE FORM 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION'S BOARD HAS A STANDING COMMITTEE, THE TRUSTEESHIP COMMITTEE, THAT KEEPS AN EVALUATION CHART ON EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OVERSEES ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT RESULT IN POSSIBLE CONFLICTS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE COMPENSATION PROCESS FOR THE PRESIDENT/CEO INCLUDED THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPOINTING A SUB-COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH LEGAL COUNCIL AND TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE SUB-COMMITTEE DID A FULL EVALUATION OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S PERFORMANCE IN THE PROCESS OF RENEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT. THE SUB-COMMITTEE ALSO WORKED WITH A NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT WHO USED EXISTING STUDIES THAT COMPARED NONPROFIT SALARIES FOR PRESIDENT TYPE POSITIONS. THE CONTRACT WAS DISCUSSED AND APPROVED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CONTRACT WAS LAST REVIEWED IN NOVEMBER 2014. SINCE THE LAST CONTRACT REVIEW, THE PRESIDENT/CEO HAS BEEN ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER COMPENSATED KEY EMPLOYEES OR TOP MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS BYLAWS AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.