2022-09-30T11:52:13-05:00 2021-12-31 721088864 LAPORTE APAC 111 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD 600 METAIRIE LA 700054958 990 2021-01-01 720408914 BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH INC BURE 5045254152 1055 ST CHARLES AVE 200 NEW ORLEANS LA 70130 REBECCA MOWBRAY PRESIDENT & CEO 5045254152 2022-09-27 1 REBECCA MOWBRAY 999009999 JOHN S WILES CPA P01222673 5048355522 3 AAL1 IAL1 2021 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z REBECCA MOWBRAY 1055 ST CHARLES AVE 200 NEW ORLEANS LA 70130 1429370 0 X WWW.BGR.ORG X 1932 LA THE BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, INDEPENDENT (CONT'D ON SCH. O) RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INFORMED PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNMENT IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA. 31 31 8 31 0 0 1820945 800618 0 0 463405 77571 -972 0 2283378 878189 0 0 0 0 913041 896640 0 0 133062 203157 231422 1116198 1128062 1167180 -249873 10259324 10956722 19608 29893 10239716 10926829 X THE BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INFORMED PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNMENT IN THE NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA. 0 0 768732 MONITORING AND REPORTING ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES: IN 2021, BGR REPORTED ON COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES INCLUDING: PROVIDING VOTERS WITH INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH'S WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY FIT INTO THE PARISH'S ABILITY TO FINANCE LONG-TERM SYSTEM NEEDS; ANALYZING THE NEW FRENCH QUARTER SECURITY TAX, HIGHLIGHTING CONCERNS ABOUT SPENDING PLANS AND THE EXCLUSION OF HOTEL ROOM RENTALS FROM THE TAX; AND UNCOVERING PENSION BENEFIT INCREASES BY THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS DURING THE PANDEMIC. BGR'S REPORT, 'A RETREAT ON PENSION REFORM' IDENTIFIED THE IMPACTS AND RISKS OF THESE CHANGES ON THE PENSION SYSTEM AND TAXPAYERS. BGR ALSO ISSUED GUIDANCE FOR POLICYMAKERS AS THEY MAKE SPENDING DECISIONS FOR FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS FLOWING INTO OUR REGION. (CONTINUED ON SCH. O) BGR CONTINUES TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS ISSUE, REITERATING BGR'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VISIONARY STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE THE USES OF THESE ONE-TIME FUNDS. BGR ALSO PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO VOTERS INCLUDING: INFORMING VOTERS ON THE NOVEMBER 13 SALES TAX PROPOSITION IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH TO FUND THE JAIL, COURTHOUSE AND OTHER PARISH RESPONSIBILITIES; AND THE DECEMBER 11 PROPOSITIONS TO EXTEND LIBRARY AND HOUSING TAXES IN NEW ORLEANS. IN 2021, BGR'S RESEARCH STAFF MONITORED MORE THAN 70 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES. BGR ALSO MONITORED THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE TO IDENTIFY BILLS OF LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE. ONCE RESEARCH IS COMPLETED, BGR PURSUES IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS, SOMETIMES OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS. IT DOES SO BY REVISITING ISSUES IN FOLLOW-UP PUBLICATIONS AND THROUGH OUTREACH AIMED AT THE PUBLIC, CITIZEN GROUPS, THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS. BGR'S MOST RECENT ASSESSMENT OF ITS EFFECTIVENESS CONCLUDED THAT, OVER THE PRECEDING DECADE, POLICYMAKERS IMPLEMENTED BGR'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO SOME DEGREE IN 13 OUT OF 16 KEY AREAS OF CONCERN. ADDITIONAL INDICATORS OF BGR'S IMPACT INCLUDE NEWS ARTICLES AND REPORTS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONING BGR; NEWS ARTICLES AND REPORTS ON A TOPIC THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION BY BGR; HITS TO A REPORT ON BGR'S WEBSITE; SHARING AND COMMENTARY ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS; AND REQUESTS TO SPEAK OR COMMENT ON A SUBJECT. IN 2021, BGR WAS MENTIONED 70 TIMES IN THE PRESS. SINCE 1938, BGR HAS BEEN HONORED BY THE GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCATION (GRA) FOR ITS WORK. IN 2021 BGR WAS RECOGNIZED BY ITS NATIONAL PEERS FOR THE 15TH YEAR IN A ROW, WHEN THE GRA BESTOWED NATIONAL RECOGNITION ON BGR, HONORING ITS UNIQUE FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING TAX PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT, AND FOR BGR'S IMPACT IMPROVING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SEARCH PROCESS. IN 2021, BGR WAS HONORED FOR DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH ON NEW ORLEANS' UNIQUE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING FRAMEWORK AND FOR HOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FISCAL STEWARDSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE POPULATION SERVED BY THIS WORK INCLUDES JEFFERSON, ORLEANS, AND ST. TAMMANY PARISHES. BASED ON 2020 U.S. CENSUS DATA ESTIMATE, THE POTENTIAL REACH OF BGR'S MONITORING AND REPORTING IS APPROXIMATELY 1,083,348 PEOPLE. BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS: BGR'S BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS ARE PUBLIC FORUMS WHERE CITIZENS CAN HEAR FROM EXPERTS AND DECISION-MAKERS ON MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES. THESE EVENTS FOSTER CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND AN INFORMED PUBLIC POLICY DIALOGUE, KEY COMPONENTS OF BGR'S MISSION AND ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. IN 2021, BGR PRESENTED FOUR VIRTUAL BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS. THEY INCLUDED SUSAN BONNETT BOURGEOIS, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE NORTHSHORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION; MIKE COOPER, ST. TAMMANY PARISH PRESIDENT, AND CHRIS MASINGILL, CEO OF ST. TAMMANY CORPORATION, PROVIDING INSIGHTS ABOUT BALANCING QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH. THE SECOND EVENT FEATURED NEWLY ELECTED CONGRESSMAN TROY CARTER OF LOUISIANA'S 2ND DISTRICT, FOLLOWED BY A FALL EVENT WITH PANELISTS MICHAEL (CONTINUED ON SCH. O) HECHT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, INC; KIMBERLY J. LEWIS, SECRETARY OF REVENUE FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA; AND DR. JAMES RICHARDSON, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. PANELISTS GAVE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON LOUISIANA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND WHAT SALES AND INCOME TAX CHANGES MEAN FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT. THE FINAL EVENT FEATURED GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS, WHO DISCUSSED KEY PRIORITIES FOR 2022 AND THE IMPACT OF NEW FEDERAL FUNDING. THIS SERIES BUILT UPON BGR'S CORE WORK OF MONITORING AND REPORTING, WHILE ENGAGING MORE THAN 250 CITIZENS AT EACH EVENT. THE BREAKFAST BRIEFING SERIES BRINGS PRESSING ISSUES DIRECTLY TO THE CITIZENS OF THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA AND ALLOWS THEM TO ENGAGE WITH LEADERS AND DECISION-MAKERS. BGR INCREASES ACCESS TO THE EVENTS BY VIDEO RECORDING THE PRESENTATIONS AND POSTING THEM ONLINE FOLLOWING EACH BREAKFAST BRIEFING. THESE EVENTS ATTRACT MEDIA COVERAGE, FURTHER MAGNIFYING THE PLATFORM AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES DISCUSSED AND OF BGR'S WORK. THE EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT EVENT IS HELD EVERY OTHER YEAR. NO EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT AWARDS WERE GIVEN IN 2021. 768732 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 31 31 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 LA X X SELVA RIEMANN 5045254152 1055 ST CHARLES AVENUE SUITE 200 NEW ORLEANS LA 70130 LUDOVICO FEOLI PAST CHAIRMAN 4.00 X X 0 0 0 H MERRITT LANE III VICE CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 NORMA GRACE CHAIR 10.00 X X 0 0 0 MAUREEN CLARY SECRETARY 4.00 X X 0 0 0 ANNE P BANOS ASSISTANT TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 TARA ADAMS MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 GARY L LORIO MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 CHRISTINE ALBERT MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN G BRENNAN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 GRAHAM RALSTON MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 VANESSA CLAIBORNE MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 HUNTER G HILL TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 CHARLES WEST MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BLAKE J STANFILL ASSISTANT SECRETARY 4.00 X X 0 0 0 CHARMAINE CACCIOPPI MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 LEAH N ENGELHARDT MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 MELISSA SAWYER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 STEVEN W USDIN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER ROBERTS MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREA CHEN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 LOUIS M FREEMAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4.00 X 0 0 0 ALEX GERSHANIK EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREW R LEE MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER M NEIL MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JESSIE HAYNES MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS LAVEIST MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JULEY T LEE MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 PATTY RIDDLEBARGER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER SCHNIDMAN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 SYRITA STEIB MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 LAMAR VILLERE MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 AMY L GLOVINSKY PRESIDENT/CEO 40.00 X 263875 0 29559 STEPHEN B STUART VP & RESEARCH DIRECTOR 40.00 X 113723 0 13376 377598 0 42935 2 0 1 0 0 499004 301614 800618 179762 179762 448990 551181 -102191 -102191 -102191 878189 0 0 77571 263875 183657 43012 37206 502725 349897 81944 70884 23289 16209 3796 3284 57325 39898 9344 8083 49426 34401 8056 6969 75060 75060 22431 22431 322 302 10 10 6752 6346 203 203 26092 24526 783 783 55374 52052 1661 1661 7120 7120 9170 8620 275 275 4636 4358 139 139 DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 13612 13612 0 0 EVENT EXPENSES 3863 1352 0 2511 MISCELLANEOUS 2680 1776 57 847 BANK FEES 1694 1694 2616 2175 234 207 1128062 768732 226268 133062 629341 649253 55459 0 1021560 0 90604 71247 19108 19432 74695 55973 15201 18722 8428051 10198068 10259324 10956722 19108 29393 500 500 19608 29893 X 958010 860076 9281706 10066753 10239716 10926829 10259324 10956722 -249873 959825 -22839 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1037251 2969100 975838 1813295 800618 7596102 1037251 2969100 975838 1813295 800618 7596102 3646794 3949308 119642 136163 209823 266084 179762 911474 8507576 50284 0.46420 0.41840 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 658 658 1123541 1124199 187420 46855 0 0 141567 145438 146306 187420 620731 931097 2454 3519 741 658 7372 35392 36360 36577 46855 155184 232776 9255756 1014534 -300000 10570290 7739943 1000000 868752 -352939 9255756 6787404 1077539 -125000 7739943 5096005 2001000 -309601 6787404 4604261 1000 590744 88745 11255 5096005 0.56200 0.43800 1 0 74695 55973 18722 18722 X 1893242 959825 78067 1037892 855350 22839 22839 878189 1206129 78067 78067 1128062 0 1128062 PART V, LINE 4: BGR'S ENDOWMENTS CONSIST OF DONOR RESTRICTED GNOF INVESTMENT POOL FUND AND THE JANET HOWARD CHAIR IN GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ENDOWMENT FUND (HOWARD CHAIR), AND THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND CREATED BY BGR. GNOF INVESTMENT POOL FUND IS MAINTAINED AND MANAGED BY THE GNOF WITHIN THEIR INVESTMENT POOL. THE FUND IS INVESTED BY GNOF WITH AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A PREDICTABLE STREAM OF FUNDING TO PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY ITS ENDOWMENT WHILE SEEKING TO MAINTAIN THE PURCHASING POWER OF THESE ENDOWMENT ASSETS OVER THE LONG-TERM. ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF INCOME FROM THE GNOF INVESTMENT POOL FUND, AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF GNOF ARE PROVIDED TO BGR. BGR'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEN DECIDES TO EITHER USE THE FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS OF BGR OR TO INVEST IN ONE OF ITS ENDOWMENT FUNDS. BGR CREATED THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND IN 2007. THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND IS TO EMPHASIZE TOTAL RETURN. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPHASIZE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF PRINCIPAL WHILE AVOIDING EXCESSIVE RISK. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE RETURNS IN EXCESS OF THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS SPENDING OVER THE INVESTMENT HORIZON IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE FUND'S ASSETS. RISK CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUND ASSETS. IN 2015, A DONOR CREATED THE HOWARD CHAIR. THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND IS TO EMPHASIZE TOTAL RETURN. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPHASIZE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF PRINCIPAL WHILE AVOIDING EXCESSIVE RISK. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE RETURNS IN EXCESS OF THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS SPENDING OVER THE INVESTMENT HORIZON IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE FUND'S ASSETS. SUCH DISTRIBUTABLE FUNDS SHALL BE USED TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF A SPEAKER AT BGR'S ANNUAL LUNCHEON, HENCEFORTH TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE JANET HOWARD SPEAKER SERIES IN GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH. IN 2018, A DONOR PROMISED TO GIVE $2,000,000 TO ENDOW THE SAMUEL ZEMURRAY CHAIR IN RESEARCH LEADERSHIP. THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE ZEMURRAY CHAIR ENDOWMENT FUND ARE TO EMPHASIZE TOTAL RETURN. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPHASIZE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF PRINCIPAL WHILE AVOIDING EXCESSIVE RISK. SHORT-TERM VOLATILITY WILL BE TOLERATED IN AS MUCH AS IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VOLATILITY OF COMPARABLE CAPITAL MARKET BENCHMARKS. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE RETURNS IN EXCESS OF THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS SPENDING OVER THE INVESTMENT HORIZON IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE FUND'S ASSETS. RISK CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUND ASSETS. SUCH DISTRIBUTABLE FUNDS SHALL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE SALARY FOR THE POSITION OF BGR'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, WHICH POSITION SHALL HEREAFTER PERMANENTLY BEAR THE TITLE OF THE SAMUEL ZEMURRAY CHAIR IN RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN ALL AND EVERY REFERENCE TO IT. PART X, LINE 2: ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROVIDE ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE GUIDANCE ABOUT POSITIONS TAKEN BY AN ENTITY IN ITS TAX RETURNS THAT MIGHT BE UNCERTAIN. BGR BELIEVES THAT IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITIONS TAKEN, AND MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. PENALTIES AND INTEREST ASSESSED BY INCOME TAXING AUTHORITIES, IF ANY, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN INCOME TAX EXPENSE. X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AMY L GLOVINSKY PRESIDENT/CEO 263875 0 0 0 0 0 13500 0 16059 0 293434 0 0 0 LUIS ZERVIGON FORMER BGR BOARD MEMBER IS A PART OWNER OF ORGANIZATION 22393 CRESCENT CAPITAL RECEIVED $22,392.63 FOR MANAGING BGR'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY FUND, JHC ENDOWMENT FUND, AND ZEMURRAY FUND IN 2021. ONE OF BGR'S FORMER BOARD MEMBERS, LUIS ZERVIGON, IS A PART OWNER. LUIS ZERVIGON WAS NOT ON THE BOARD WHEN BGR ENTERED INTO THE RELATIONSHIP. THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR WAS CHOSEN THROUGH AN ARMS-LENGTH PROCESS UTILIZING AN RFP/RFQ. THE BOARD MEMBER'S TERM EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2016. 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH GARY LORIO. MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH ANDREW LEE. MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH VANESSA CLAIBORNE. MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH LAMAR VILLERE. ANNE BANOS HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH HUNTER HILL. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 HUNTER HILL IS MARKET PRESIDENT OF AN ENTITY THAT HAS OCCASSIONAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH LUDOVICO FEOLI, LOUIS FREEMAN, MELISSA SAWYER, & STEVE USDIN. JENNIFER ROBERTS HAS AN OCCASIONAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH MERRITT LANE, A TRUSTEE OF BCM, AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FUNDING TO AGENDA FOR CHILDREN. JENNIFER ROBERTS SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF AGENDA FOR CHILDREN. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 BGR HAS MEMBERS WHO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE ORGANIZATION ALLOWING FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO PRESERVE ITS INDEPENDENCE. CONSISTENT WITH BGR'S BYLAWS, MEMBERS HAVE VOTING PRIVILEGES AT BGR'S ANNUAL MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A BGR HAS MEMBERS WHO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE ORGANIZATION ALLOWING FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO PRESERVE ITS INDEPENDENCE. CONSISTENT WITH BGR'S BYLAWS, MEMBERS HAVE VOTING PRIVILEGES AT BGR'S ANNUAL MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B UPON COMPLETION OF THE FINAL DRAFT OF FORM 990 BY BGR'S AUDITORS,THE PRESIDENT & CEO, REBECCA MOWBRAY, AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REVIEW THE FORM 990. COPIES ARE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BGR HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND AN ETHICS POLICY STATEMENT IT REQUIRES ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES TO REVIEW AND ACKNOWLEDGE BY SIGNATURE. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF ANY FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF BGR'S RESEARCH AND REPORTING OR IN THE OPERATION OF ITS ORGANIZATION. THE ETHICS POLICY STATEMENT REQUIRES RECUSAL FOR REAL OR PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND PRESCRIBES THE PROCESS BY WHICH CONFLICTS ARE DISCLOSED, REPORTED, AND ADJUDICATED BY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICER OR STAFF MEMBER. IT ALSO IMPOSES THE DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION AND PROHIBITS EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTIVITY. BGR IMPLEMENTED THESE POLICIES TO SAFEGUARD THE CREDIBILITY, OBJECTIVITY, INDEPENDENCE AND NONPARTISAN CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS WORK PRODUCT AND TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF INTEGRITY IN ITS POLICY ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SET THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT & CEO BASED ON ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THIS ADVICE IS BASED ON COMPARABLE DATA. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ITS FORM 990 UPON REQUEST AND IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON WWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.